US President Joe Biden congratulated Argentinian President-elect Javier Milei on his victory and underscored the importance of maintaining strong ties between the two nations.

Biden spoke with Milei — a libertarian outsider who won on a promise to take radical action to fix the South American country’s struggling economy — by phone Wednesday, the White House said.

Milei’s foreign policy adviser Diana Mondino characterized the conversation as “very friendly,” telling reporters in downtown Buenos Aires that the two leaders discussed the Qatari-brokered deal to secure the release of Hamas-held hostages in Gaza as well as food and energy issues.

Milei is looking to implement shock measures from his first days in power to stabilize an economy battered by 143% inflation, a chronic lack of international financing, and an expected currency devaluation.

Milei, an economist who is set to be sworn in Dec. 10, is pursuing drastic policy changes, including dollarizing the economy and shutting down the central bank. While his plans have caused some alarm, Argentinian business leaders celebrated his victory in the face of a deepening economic crisis that has left 40% of people below the poverty line.

“Argentina is a terrific partner in the region. And there’s an awful lot of things we share in terms of values: value of democracy, human rights, and just hemispheric security and economic concerns that we look forward to working with him and his team on,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan congratulated Milei on X, formerly Twitter, following his victory Sunday.

“We look forward to building on our strong bilateral relationship based on our shared commitment to human rights, democratic values, & transparency,” Sullivan wrote.

Milei won about 56% of votes, compared with 44% for Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who represented continuity with the existing Peronist government.

Biden has not yet been to South America since his inauguration in January 2021, although he could be expected to visit Brazil next year when the nation hosts the Group of 20 leaders.

--With assistance from Jennifer Jacobs and Jordan Fabian.

Author: Eric Martin, Akayla Gardner and Manuela Tobias