In a move poised to reshape the trajectory of Argentina’s role in the global energy transition, President Javier Milei and French President Emmanuel Macron have signed a strategic agreement to bolster cooperation in critical minerals and nuclear energy. This milestone, reached during the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, signals a robust Franco-Argentine alliance focused on sustainability, innovation, and long-term energy security.
The centrepiece of the agreement is a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals, with a spotlight on lithium—an essential input for batteries and energy storage solutions integral to the net-zero transition. Argentina, home to a third of the global "lithium triangle", has rapidly become a focal point for investment as Europe races to diversify away from Asian supply chains.
For France, this partnership is more than resource access—it’s about resilient and sustainable sourcing. The inclusion of environmental traceability and sustainable mining practices in the bilateral discussions speaks volumes about both nations’ intent to align economic opportunity with climate commitments.
French development banks are expected to back exploration and mining initiatives, further blending European green finance with Latin American resource endowment.
Beyond minerals, nuclear power emerged as a key theme of cooperation. France, a world leader in civilian nuclear technology, has shown keen interest in participating in Argentina’s nuclear modernisation programmes. With its longstanding infrastructure—including the Atucha and Embalse reactors—Argentina is uniquely positioned to scale low-carbon baseload energy, crucial for grid stability amid growing renewable capacity.
This dimension of the agreement stands out: while global narratives often pit nuclear against renewables, this bilateral initiative treats nuclear as a net-zero enabler, supporting France’s ambitions to export high-tech clean energy expertise and Argentina’s drive for energy autonomy.
While Milei’s presence at a multilateral climate forum raised eyebrows—given his past scepticism—his one-on-one with Macron delivered realpolitik results. The personal rapport between the two, cemented during Macron’s 2023 visit to Buenos Aires, has now matured into actionable cooperation. Notably, this comes as Argentina distances itself from regional counterparts such as Brazil, favouring bilateral engagements with high-technology economies.
The pivot to Paris signals a broader reorientation of Argentina’s foreign energy strategy: away from ideological blocs, and towards high-impact, resource-technology partnerships rooted in commercial logic and climate imperatives.
For the Net-Zero Circle community, this development embodies the kind of cross-continental collaboration needed to make decarbonisation real:
As the world transitions to low-emission energy systems, such alliances will be vital—not just for resource access, but for ensuring the ethics, traceability, and resilience of clean energy supply chains.
In the evolving energy diplomacy landscape, the Milei–Macron accord is more than a handshake—it's a lever for change. By blending Argentina’s resource potential with France’s technological prowess and sustainability frameworks, the deal positions both countries at the forefront of a just, accelerated, and cooperative energy transition.
