**Argentina's Surprising Vote Against U.N. Resolution on Gender Violence Sparks Outrage**

Argentina stunned the international community on Thursday by casting the sole vote against a United Nations resolution condemning violence against women and girls. Traditionally seen as one of Latin America's most socially progressive nations, Argentina's surprising stance drew widespread criticism across the political spectrum.

The resolution, drafted by France and the Netherlands, saw abstentions from countries often noted for their contentious positions, such as Iran, Russia, and North Korea. However, Argentina's outright opposition, the only such vote, has been attributed to the dramatic foreign policy shifts under President Javier Milei. Milei, who is Argentina's most right-wing leader in the 41 years since democracy was restored, has been making sweeping changes to align the country's stance more closely with the United States and Israel while taking fringe positions on the global stage.

Just days prior to this vote, Milei, a skeptic of climate change, called back Argentina’s negotiators from the U.N. climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, prompting concerns that he might withdraw Argentina from the 2015 Paris climate agreement altogether. According to Richard Sanders, a global fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, this marks a substantial departure from Argentina's traditional foreign policy, which has sought to integrate the country within the Global South.

The fallout from Thursday's vote mirrored a similar controversy last month when Argentina was the only Group of 20 nation member to sign a statement that included gender equality language. Political parties in Argentina, regardless of their ideology, condemned the move. Former President Mauricio Macri's conservative party criticized the vote on social media, while centrist Senator Martín Lousteau called the decision a "disgrace," warning it would isolate Argentina internationally.

Top official Guillermo Francos defended the vote, arguing that resolutions and treaties do not effectively address gender violence. Nearly a year into his presidency, Milei continues to provoke strong reactions both domestically and abroad. He recently met with former U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, highlighting his efforts to forge tighter ties with the Trump administration. Photos released by the Argentine presidency showed Milei with Trump and tech magnate Elon Musk, underscoring Milei's disdain for "wokeness," gender issues, and socialism.

Milei's tenure has been marked by significant cultural clashes. Domestically, he has eliminated the women's and environment ministries and dismantled the national anti-discrimination institute. These moves have generated backlash from countries traditionally allied with Argentina, such as Brazil and Spain. Tensions further escalated when Milei fired his then-Foreign Minister Diana Mondino for supporting a U.N. vote to end the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba, appointing businessman Gerardo Werthein as her replacement.

Milei's administration has seen a series of forced resignations within the foreign ministry, aimed at removing those seen as critical of his aggressive stance against multilateral agreements like the U.N.'s "Pact for the Future," which promotes climate action, female empowerment, and AI regulation. This crackdown has caused turmoil within Argentina's diplomatic ranks.

The response from Argentina's Peronist movement, long a dominant force in the country's politics, has been one of fury. Lawmakers voiced fears that Milei's actions threaten to unravel social progress, including the legalization of abortion and environmental protections. Prominent Peronist politician Mayra Mendoza accused Milei of equating violence with freedom, encapsulating the deep divisions and concerns over the country's future direction under his leadership.