Obama arrives Argentina in historic state visit, under heavy security

On the heels of his historic visit to Cuba, President Obama and the first family arrived in Argentina early Wednesday for a two-day visit, his first trip to the country since he became president. 

Obama, the first lady and their two daughters landed around 1 a.m. GMT (12 a.m. ET) in the capital, which has beefed up its security presence since the terrorist attacks that shook Brussels Tuesday morning. Authorities had shut down several streets and subway stops by midnight. Helicopters were seen flying in the sky, according to the national newspaper, Clarin.

“I consider the rapprochement between the two countries very positive and I would like that they keep having a good relation in the future regardless of who wins the upcoming elections,” said Sofi Romero, an Argentine.

Obama plans to meet with Argentinian President Mauricio Macri Tuesday morning in the presidential palace, where the heads of state may discuss trade, energy, technology, education and the environment. He will join Macri for dinner with 400 guests in the city's eastside Tuesday night and lay a wreath at the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral, where Pope Francis served as archbishop.

“I think that the gesture of President Obama’s visit is very important for us because it shows the interest and the priority of the U.S. administration,” Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra said in a press conference Monday.
Obama's visit will be met with backlash from some Argentines. Thousands plan to protest the American leader's appearance on March 24, the 40th anniversary of a 1976 right-wing coup that had the tacit support of the Ford administration. But a March 2016 poll of 1,000 Buenos Aires respondents found that a majority (66%) sees Obama's visit as a positive change. Respondents say the visit will boost investment and foster reintegration in the world, according to the consultancy Ibarómetro in Buenos Aires.
A week before Obama’s state visit, human rights organizations in Argentina applauded the U.S. decision to declassify military, intelligence and law enforcement records on the South American nation’s “dirty war” — the 1976-1983 government junta against left-wing guerrillas and suspected dissidents — that the U.S. initially supported

Share on Google Plus

About Unknown

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.