The French Embassy celebrated its national day, emphasizing the similarities with Milei

From a discreet stage set up in the central hall of the Basualdo Palace, which houses the French Embassy, Romain Nadal recalled this Tuesday that July 14, Bastille Day and the commemoration of the French Revolution of 1789, was the moment in which his people took the reins of their destiny by following the humanist ideas of the Enlightenment, embracing its amplified values of liberty, equality and fraternity.

But also in his speech, this Tuesday at a grand reception attended by Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos and ministers such as Patricia Bullrich (Security) and Luis Petri (Defense), Ambassador Nadal took the opportunity to highlight the friendship that Javier Milei and Emmanuel Macron have forged since the libertarian came to power. Nadal didn't say so, but it's a curious relationship between two men who may share a liberal vision of the economy, but their visions on politics and society are very different. Macron embodies a president with a vision of a strong state that defends multilateralism and human rights. Milei advocates, in words, the exact opposite.

At the French Embassy in Argentina ( @FranceArgentine ), together with national authorities and members of the diplomatic corps, I participated in the celebration of French National Day, in commemoration of the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille that started the Revolution... pic.twitter.com/xS3F9wky6Y

— Guillermo Francos (@GAFrancosOk) July 15, 2025

In front of hundreds of guests, always delighted by the delicacies and champagne that France always offers at its receptions, Nadal spoke of how Presidents Milei and Macron "established the strategic priorities for cooperation between our two countries: strategic minerals and the energy transition, civil nuclear energy, the development of our economic ties, and the coordination of our positions on defense and international security."

Nadal thus listed a series of visits between Buenos Aires and Paris by presidents and ministers. The last time Milei and Macron met was on June 9, in Nice, on the sidelines of the Third Ocean Summit, where, paradoxically, Argentina did not send a delegation because Milei has withdrawn from almost all United Nations multilateral bodies, on matters related to the environment, gender, social issues, and the Middle East.

Nadal spoke about human rights and the promotion of pro-gender policies, but raised his voice to point out that Argentina and France had a "shared vision in the defense of an international order based on respect for international law," which was reflected in their "uninterrupted support for Ukraine." He then paid special attention to the man he called "the brave ambassador (Yuriy Klimenko) of the courageous Ukrainian nation in the face of Russia's intolerable war of aggression." He then asked for "a great round of applause," which resounded throughout the embassy halls. A singer of Haitian origin performed songs after the speeches by Nadal and Francos and after the respective national anthems were played.

"The Ukraine crisis is a crucial issue for international security. We have had the support of President Milei since the first day of his inauguration. He invited President Zelensky to his inauguration and attended the Ukraine peace conference in July 2024," he said, highlighting one of the issues—regional security—on which the Europeans, rivals of Vladimir Putin's Russia, are engaged.

In the embassy halls, economists focused on the government and the containment of the dollar's price until October. In addition to Guillermo Francos, Bullrich, and Petri, the Vice Chief of Staff, José Rolandi, and the Vice Chief of Staff for the Interior, Lisandro Catalán, were also present. Also present were the new Secretary of Economic Relations of the Foreign Ministry, Fernando Brun; the Undersecretary of International Relations of the Legislature, Pablo Garzonio. Also present were figures from the judiciary, such as Judge Daniel Rafecas. Also present were the president of the French Club, historian Roberto Azaretto, and the president of ALPI, Teresa González Fernández.

Suddenly, Gabriela Michetti appeared. She rarely attends receptions, but this Tuesday she was very talkative and seemingly eager to join a list. Everyone asked Bullrich if she was going to be a candidate for senator, but she didn't get a response; instead, she made it seem like her breakfasts at Olivos with Milei were more than usual.

Alejandro Catterberg was one of the most consulted on the possible results of the Buenos Aires elections, but he preferred to hide behind the topic that most concerns him: the advancement of artificial intelligence, as he told editor Alejandro Katz, a self-described techno-skeptic. The presence of Daniel González, the low-profile but increasingly powerful Secretary of Energy, did not go unnoticed, celebrating the power of a sector that is close to repeating production records.