Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the British Parliament, set out on a five-day tour to Latin America on 19th May 2018. If his trip proves to be successful, Boris will create history by becoming the first British foreign secretary to visit Argentina after 25 years. The purpose of his visit is to improve political relations with Buenos Aires following the inauguration of President Mauricio Macri in 2015.
During his stay in Argentina, Boris Johnson is expected to have a discussion with President Macri regarding further improvement in economic and political co-operation between the two countries. The relations between UK and Argentina have been on the edge ever since the invasion of 1982 which led to a 74-day military conflict with the UK regarding the possession of the Falkland Islands. Despite the fact that the Falkland Islands had voted majority to remain under the rule of the United Kingdom, Buenos Aires continued to exact curbs on fishing and oil around the Islands. This scenario is expected to change after a peace conference between President Macri and Boris Johnson.
Boris, accompanied by his counterpart Jorge Faurie, is scheduled to visit the Malvinas Monument in Buenos Aires as a show of respect for the fallen Argentines during the battle of 1982. Boris Johnson is also scheduled to travel to Peru and Chile during his five-day trip, thereby improving political relations with most of Latin America. During his stay in Peru – the first visit by a Foreign Minister in 50 years – Johnson will visit an Amazonian rainforest which houses a small settlement created by solar UK-funded provisions. Boris Johnson is also expected to boost the post-Brexit trade with Chile during his stay in the continent.