Rubio admits Argentina a country in talks with US over accepting deported immigrants

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted on Wednesday to having “conversations” involving Argentina and other countries about potentially accepting immigrants the Trump administration has decided to deport.  Rubio, however, clarified that the two governments do not have “anything lined up” yet.  “I know it’s been the subject of media leaks, and sometimes those are with malicious intent, but certainly Argentina is a great partner across the board, and at the end of the day we have tremendous faith and confidence in our relationship with President Milei and his team,” said Rubio. He also described Argentina as an important partner in various areas and emphasized the strength of the bilateral relationship. Marco Rubio spoke in a press conference opening a State Department-hosted summit with dozens of nations aimed at building a bloc to rebuild global supply chains of the critical minerals without China.  His words come five days after The New York Times reported that both countries are working on an agreement to allow the United States to deport immigrants from other nations to Argentina.  The negotiations come as the Trump administration has mobilized a sweeping and aggressive deportation effort, including deploying immigration officers to U.S. cities. According to Argentine media outlets, Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, who was present in Washington DC for the summit, has declined to answer questions about reports of negotiations over immigrants.  Critical minerals under the spotlight Ministers from over 50 countries are attending the United States’ summit on critical minerals this week in Washington, DC.  The meeting is the first of the new Critical Minerals Ministerial, a U.S. initiative to build alliances aimed at countering China’s control over critical mineral supply chains around the world. Officials are seeking to strengthen and diversify their nations’ stockpiles of critical minerals, which are used to manufacture batteries, clocks, wiring, military hardware, and semiconductors, among other technological products, essential for the defense industry and for the development of artificial intelligence. Marco Rubio proposed frameworks that will serve as “platforms for coordinating policies” to ensure countries can have abundant and affordable access to critical minerals. Argentina was invited to the summit due to its vast resources of critical minerals. The sector has been a priority for President Milei’s economic plan, as his government has signaled it as a key for economic growth.  Several moves over the past recent months also indicate that Argentina seems to be moving away from a decades-long opposition to mining and other activities perceived as harmful to the environment, in favor of an approach that places greater emphasis on urgently needed economic development and growth. President Javier Milei filed a bill that modifies a law that protects glaciers, with the goal of loosening barriers on mining. Mendoza has also greenlit what will become the first copper mining project in the province in two decades — which environmental activists say could potentially contaminate the water in the Uspallata area.  In Washington, DC, Minister Quirno confirmed a new investment of US$14 billion dollars by Anglo-Swiss multinational commodity trading and mineral company Glencore, under the new RIGI investment regime.  Secretary of State Rubio emphasized the importance of Argentina’s place in the plan. He pointed to the country’s capacity “to be a key partner in minerals critical to the world, not just the United States.” He emphasized its geology and geographic location as one of the global leaders.  “Furthermore, its location in the Western Hemisphere has strategic value not only for Argentina but also, obviously, for the United States,” he concluded.