Milei from Rome Calls for Founding of International Right-Wing Alliance

 Argentina's President Javier Milei, left, and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni gesture during Atreju 2024, event organized by the Fratelli d'Italia party at the Circo Massimo, Rome, Saturday, Dec 14, 2024 (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
Argentina's President Javier Milei, left, and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni gesture during Atreju 2024, event organized by the Fratelli d'Italia party at the Circo Massimo, Rome, Saturday, Dec 14, 2024 (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
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Milei from Rome Calls for Founding of International Right-Wing Alliance

 Argentina's President Javier Milei, left, and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni gesture during Atreju 2024, event organized by the Fratelli d'Italia party at the Circo Massimo, Rome, Saturday, Dec 14, 2024 (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
Argentina's President Javier Milei, left, and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni gesture during Atreju 2024, event organized by the Fratelli d'Italia party at the Circo Massimo, Rome, Saturday, Dec 14, 2024 (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)

Argentina’s President Javier Milei called for the founding of an international alliance of right-wing leaders and nations to fight the left and socialism, and to act as the Roman legions who were able to defeat larger armies.

Milei’s call came in a fiery speech he delivered on Saturday evening in Rome. The president was in the Italian capital to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and to take part, as a guest of honor, in the annual festival of her Brothers of Italy party, which traces its roots to a neo-fascist group set up after World War II.

At the party, Meloni introduced her guest, who boasts of his friendship with Israel and US President-elect Donald Trump, as “the leader of a cultural revolution in a friendly country.”

She said they shared an opposition to welfare payments and believe that work is the only way to fight poverty.

Milei said far-right parties have a historical duty to combat socialism and therefore, should stand together, establishing channels of cooperation throughout the world.

He warned that the right-wing and liberal forces had paid a heavy price due to their fragmentation, inability, or refusal to confront a united left wing.

He criticized socialists, saying they prefer to rule in a collapsed country than serve in a prosperous one.

Milei celebrates one year in office this week. Since his election campaign and even in his oath-taking speech, the president had repeated calls to face socialism and left-wing parties.



Greece Says 8 Dead, 18 Rescued as Speedboat with Migrants Capsizes near Island

Migrant route from Türkiye to Greece has seen increased usage this year (AFP/file photo)
Migrant route from Türkiye to Greece has seen increased usage this year (AFP/file photo)
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Greece Says 8 Dead, 18 Rescued as Speedboat with Migrants Capsizes near Island

Migrant route from Türkiye to Greece has seen increased usage this year (AFP/file photo)
Migrant route from Türkiye to Greece has seen increased usage this year (AFP/file photo)

A speedboat carrying migrants capsized Friday morning off the eastern Greek island of Rhodes, leaving eight dead and 18 rescued, Greek authorities said.
The coast guard said the incident occurred while the speedboat was carrying out “dangerous maneuvers” to try and evade a patrol vessel, causing migrants to fall into the sea.
A rescue effort is underway involving coast guard vessels and a helicopter as it was unclear whether other passengers were missing, authorities said.
Rhodes, one of several large Greek islands located near the coast of Türkiye, is on a busy illegal smuggling route in the eastern Mediterranean. It was the second deadly incident involving migrants in the past week, as authorities in Athens brace for a spike in arrivals as a result of wars in the Middle East.
Seven migrants were killed and dozens are believed to be missing after a boat partially sank south of the island of Crete over the weekend – one of four rescue operations during which more than 200 migrants were rescued.
The search south of Crete around the tiny island of Gavdos was called off Wednesday.
The number of migrants traveling illegally to Greece is expected to top 60,000 this year, with Syrians making up the largest number, followed by Afghans, Egyptians, Eritreans and Palestinians, according to government data.