Dinner with HE Mariana Plaza - A Glimpse into Argentina-UK Bilateral Relations Tuesday, the 25th of November
On Tuesday, 25th of November members of the CFCC gathered in the Attlee Room at the House of Lords for dinner with HE Mariana Plaza, Ambassador of Argentina. The Ambassador was warmly welcomed by Baroness Meyer, Chairman of the CFCC.
HE Mariana Plaza has an illustrious track record and throughout her career has held senior roles notably as Chief of Cabinet for the Deputy Foreign Secretary and the Under-secretariat for international economic negotiations with a focus on MERCOSUR. Her experience spans three continents, including postings to the Argentine Mission in Montevideo and the Embassy in Kenya. From 2019 she served as Head of the Political Section and since 2020, Deputy Head of Mission in London to become the Argentine ambassador in 2024.
Members enjoyed a delicious dinner of goat’s cheese souffle, herb marinated Gressingham duck breast followed by a clementine baba and dark chocolate blackcurrant delice. Baroness Hooper then welcomed guests and the Ambassador and her husband, Minister Gonzalo Ortiz de Zárate, and gave a brief outline of her career describing her as, “A breath of fresh air”.
HE Mariana Plaza spoke of the history of connections between the UK and Argentina through trade, immigration, culture, education and more, pointing out that it has been 200 years since the first bilateral agreement between the two countries.
Argentina gained independence 216 years ago and since then many have immigrated from all corners of the UK to Argentina. She spoke of the first group of Scottish settlers who arrived on a ship called Symmetry bringing the spirit of Scotland to South America and the Welsh who arrived three decades later in the 1860s from Liverpool and settled in Patagonia where the Welsh language is spoken to this day.
Until the 1930’s Argentina benefited from an economic boom becoming a major food provider for the world and especially the UK. UK immigrants invested in Argentina in banking, finance, communication and shipping building stronger relationships. The only Harrods outside London was in Buenos Aires.
The 1980s saw the South Atlantic conflict and bilateral diplomatic relations weren’t re-established until the 1990’s. Although Argentina firmly holds its national position stated in its National Constitution, both countries have never lost the capacity of bilateral dialogue and communication.
The Ambassador described Argentina as a unique country with so much potential. The eighth largest in the world, “it is going from strength to strength under President Javier Milei”. Change has come through Argentina’s young people. The President spoke to them and to many others encouraging a new spirit, bringing about a changing attitude. The Ambassador mentioned the Ley Bases — a bill passed in Congress described as a framework for the freedom of the Argentine people. She mentioned the three main pillars that the Ley Bases rests on, which are the deregulation of the state, promoting investments, and decreasing the weight of the state in the economy. Along with the Government’s policies, it helped to create a stable macroeconomic environment and rebuild Argentina’s credibility. The President continues to have massive support throughout the country.
Baroness Hooper then thanked the Ambassador for her work in keeping Argentina on the agenda of the UK government and invited questions.
The Ambassador told guests that what she will take from the UK back to Argentina are the traditions she believes contribute to a more stable country and help strengthen institutions and the rule of law.
Report: Sue Whitting
Photos; Guy Lucas
