Argentinian President Javier Milei, known for wielding a symbolic chainsaw of austerity at public events, was offered some words of advice during a Berlin meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday: Don't lose sight of social harmony.
According to Scholz's official spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, the German chancellor stressed the need to protect social cohesion and urged Milei to employ socially acceptable policies as he rolls out his radical economic reform in Argentina.
For his part, the ultra-liberal Milei doesn't think much of state support and wealth redistribution, and sees taxes as theft.
"The state is not the solution, it's the problem," is one of his mantras, and his views have made him one of the most controversial leaders of South America.
'Milei, scumbag, you're the dictatorship'
Milei's trip to Germany was accompanied by protests in Berlin and Hamburg, and several dozen demonstrators protested against the self-described anarcho-capitalist at the Berlin Chancellery with signs saying "Away with Milei" and chanting in Spanish "Milei, scumbag, you're the dictatorship."
Scholz rejected criticism of his decision to host Milei, telling German broadcaster ARD before the meeting that it was his job "to speak to people who hold office."
"Germany and Argentina have had very good relations for many decades. Of course I will meet with a democratically elected president from there."
Milei was originally due to receive a full welcome with military honours, but this, alongside a joint press conference, was cancelled at short notice.
Instead, the two vastly contrasting leaders - one pragmatic, the other bombastic - met for just one hour, reportedly at Milei's request.
Scholz and Milei were also said to have discussed economic relations between the two countries and agreed on the need for for the swift conclusion of 25 years of talks on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur organization, which includes Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay as well as Argentina.
Argentina has large reserves of raw materials such as lithium that are urgently needed in Germany for the green energy transition.
Agreement on Ukraine and free trade
Scholz and Milei were also on the same page when it came to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with both agreeing that "Russia has the power to end the war of aggression against Ukraine," Hebestreit said.
Milei, who was elected with more than 55% of the vote in November's presidential elections, arrived in Germany on Saturday to receive a medal from the Friedrich August von Hayek Foundation in the northern port city of Hamburg.
He collected the award from the think tank - named after the Austrian pioneer of neoliberalism - as hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside the venue against his invitation.
Around 200 supporters attended the ceremony, including notable right-wing German politicians such as Beatrix von Storch, a lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Only a handful of global leaders have received Milei since he took office, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Italy's Giorgia Meloni, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and Pope Francis.
On a previous stop in Madrid earlier this week, Milei was snubbed by officials after a bitter war of words with the Spanish government.
Milei skipped traditional early visits to Argentina's neighbours Brazil and Chile due to wide ideological differences. He has visited the United States a number of times without receiving an invitation to the White House, instead meeting with Tesla chief Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump.
