Argentina’s President Javier Milei was given Italian citizenship during a state visit.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei has officially obtained Italian citizenship during a state visit to Italy, a spokesperson for the Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed to CNN.
Milei, whose three grandparents emigrated from Italy to Argentina in 1926, was granted citizenship through ius sanguinis, a principle that allows individuals to claim nationality based on their bloodline. His sister and close political adviser, Karina Milei, also received Italian citizenship during the visit.
The Milei siblings attended the annual political convention of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party in Rome, known as Atreju. The event, named after a character from the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story, served as a platform for discussions on political alliances and shared ideological goals.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni revealed that Milei had initiated the citizenship process earlier this year, a procedure that often takes years for most applicants. However, the timing of his successful application comes just weeks before the implementation of new regulations that will make acquiring Italian citizenship more challenging and expensive.
The revised rules, part of Italy’s broader efforts to tighten immigration policies, will significantly increase application fees and create additional barriers for children born in Italy to foreign parents to obtain citizenship. Critics argue that the changes could disproportionately affect long-term residents who have built lives in Italy but lack ancestral ties.
For Milei, who has Italian roots and aligns politically with Meloni, this recognition of dual nationality symbolizes not only a personal milestone but also a strengthening of ties between Italy and Argentina. Meloni and Milei share a populist, far-right platform that emphasizes nationalism and economic reform, making this state visit particularly significant.
While in Rome, the Milei siblings participated in high-level discussions and networked with prominent European leaders. Their citizenship grants add a symbolic layer to these interactions, potentially facilitating deeper collaboration between the two nations.
This announcement also underscores the political advantages of ius sanguinis in fostering connections between Italy and its diaspora. Over the years, this principle has enabled millions of descendants of Italian emigrants to reconnect with their heritage, often benefiting from the privileges of European Union membership.
However, the timing of the Mileis’ citizenship recognition has drawn attention to the disparities in Italy’s citizenship process. As new rules are set to take effect, many potential applicants—particularly those without ancestral ties—may find the process increasingly inaccessible.
For now, the Milei siblings’ dual citizenship highlights the enduring influence of Italy’s global diaspora and its potential role in shaping international political alliances. Their visit to Rome signals a deepening relationship between Argentina’s leadership and Italy’s far-right government under Meloni.
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