Netanyahu meets Latin American leaders as Israel seeks deeper regional ties

Following his UN address, Netanyahu held talks with Latin American leaders on strengthening political, economic, and security cooperation, including possible expansion of the Isaac Accords.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with leaders from several Latin American countries following his address to the United Nations General Assembly, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, and Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, the Prime Minister’s Office said Thursday.

The meetings focused on strengthening ties between Israel and Latin America, including the potential expansion of the Isaac Accords, an initiative launched last November to promote political, economic, and cultural cooperation between Israel and Latin American countries, modeled after the Abraham Accords.

Netanyahu emphasized the importance of closer cooperation with Latin American nations, describing them as key partners in addressing security challenges posed by Iran and affiliated groups operating across the region. He said these networks continue to threaten countries throughout the continent.

During the meeting, Netanyahu praised Milei’s economic reforms in Argentina, calling him “one of the great leaders of our time” and saying his transformation of the country’s economy was “masterful” despite political opposition. Netanyahu also highlighted Milei’s support for Israel, saying, “you stand up for the truth” and that the two countries share “a common heritage of justice and speaking the truth.”

Milei thanked Netanyahu for his remarks, calling it “an honor” to receive praise from “one of the greatest leaders of all history of the world.” The Argentine president reiterated his close personal ties with Netanyahu and his support for Israel during their meeting.

MDA hosts Latin American delegation to share emergency response expertise

The diplomatic outreach comes as Israel seeks to deepen ties with Latin America through a range of initiatives, including cooperation in emergency medicine. Last week, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service hosted a delegation of 21 senior executives and managers from emergency medical organizations in Latin America and Spain for a professional workshop.

As part of the Foreign Ministry’s 545 Project, representatives from Spain, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Chile, and Honduras visited Israel to learn from MDA’s emergency response operations. The delegation toured MDA facilities in Ramle and Jerusalem, visited communities in southern Israel, and examined Israel’s emergency medical systems.

The growing engagement comes as several Latin American countries have taken steps to strengthen ties with Israel. The Dominican Republic recently became the seventh Latin American nation to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, joining Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay.

Other countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Chile, have expanded cooperation with Israel in areas including security, trade, technology, and efforts to combat antisemitism and Iran-linked threats. The trend has been driven by shifting political dynamics in the region and shared concerns over terrorism, organized crime, and regional security challenges.

Scheduling challenges limited Netanyahu’s UN diplomatic agenda

The initial plan for Netanyahu’s UN visit included a broader diplomatic schedule, including a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump. However, the two leaders’ schedules did not align, preventing the meeting from taking place.

A planned meeting with entrepreneur Elon Musk was also canceled, while logistical challenges related to potential travel to Texas and heightened security concerns in New York further limited the prime minister’s movements.

Netanyahu’s stay in New York was ultimately reduced to roughly six hours, leaving limited time for additional engagements. Beyond his meetings with Latin American leaders, he also met with the prime ministers of Ethiopia, Greece, Slovenia, and Papua New Guinea, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Anna Barsky, Lee Smith, Combat Antisemtism Movement, and Milla Wolman contributed to this report.