G20 South Africa – Minister’s meeting with his Argentinian counterpart, Mr Pablo Quirno (23 November 2025)

M. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had a meeting with his Argentinian counterpart, Mr Pablo Quirno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, on 23 November 2025, on the sidelines of the G20 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The ministers talked about the EU-Mercosur agreement, with M. Barrot recalling the preconditions set out by President Macron for France to support the agreement, and in particular the need to finalize with Mercosur partners a robust safeguard clause.

Messrs Barrot and Quirno also welcomed the intensification of bilateral economic and financial exchanges, especially the dynamism of the French groups present in Argentina helping bring about the country’s macroeconomic stabilization, and the prospects of strengthening the bilateral relationship in the areas of security and defence. The Minister recalled that the signing of a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals in June 2025 demonstrated the high level of trust between our countries in this strategic field. The meeting also provided an opportunity to renew France’s support for Argentina in its bid to join the OECD, and to discuss the main international crises.