US Congress Revives Bipartisan Argentina Caucus to Bolster Bilateral Ties

Caucus Reactivated to Enhance Bilateral Relations

The United States Congress has officially revived the bipartisan Argentina Caucus, a legislative group dedicated to fostering stronger political and economic ties between the U.S. and Argentina. The reactivation was confirmed on January 9, 2026, with the administrative committee approving its registration. This move signals a renewed commitment to the strategic partnership between Washington and Buenos Aires.

The newly reactivated caucus will be co-chaired by Representative Michael Rulli (Republican-Ohio) and Representative Darren Soto (Democrat-Florida). An aide to Representative Rulli stated that the caucus is intended to be a 'bipartisan platform dedicated to boosting relations between the United States and Argentina via information sessions, events and debates.'

Historical Context and Objectives

The Argentina Caucus has a history of promoting U.S.-Argentine relations. It previously operated from 2017 until 2023. The caucus was initially launched on January 9, 2018, by then-Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY). Its original mandate included strengthening U.S.-Argentine relations in areas of mutual concern, such as promoting democracy and combating transnational crime. It also served as a platform for public briefings and meetings on Argentina, a resource for lawmakers, and a vehicle for strengthening the bilateral relationship as Argentina took on increasingly prominent regional and global leadership roles.

In June 2019, the leadership transitioned to Representatives James A. Himes (D-CT) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) as co-chairs.

Strengthening Economic and Diplomatic Ties

The revival of the caucus comes at a time of developing closer diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries, particularly under the administration of Argentine President Javier Milei. The United States has provided significant financial backing to Argentina, including a US$20-billion currency swap in October 2025, aimed at stabilizing the Argentine peso.

Furthermore, a framework for a reciprocal trade and investment agreement was announced in November 2025. This agreement seeks to deepen bilateral cooperation, open markets for key products, and eliminate tariffs on certain goods. Key elements of this framework include:

• Preferential market access for U.S. goods exports to Argentina, including medicines, chemicals, machinery, and agricultural products.
• The U.S. removing reciprocal tariffs on certain unavailable natural resources and non-patented pharmaceutical articles.
• Improved bilateral market access conditions for beef trade.
• Cooperation to facilitate investment and trade in critical minerals and stabilize the global soybean trade.

President Milei's pro-market reforms and his administration's foreign policy alignment with the United States have contributed to this strengthening of relations.

Conclusion

The re-establishment of the Congressional Argentina Caucus underscores a bipartisan commitment within the U.S. Congress to deepen engagement with Argentina. This legislative body is expected to play a crucial role in facilitating dialogue and policy initiatives that support the expanding political and economic partnership between the United States and Argentina.