▲ President Lee Jae Myung (L) and Argentine President Javier Milei pose for a photo ahead of their summit at the Argentine presidential palace, Casa Rosada, in Buenos Aires on July 31, 2026. (Yonhap)

By Park Boram

BUENOS AIRES, July 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei, held summit talks Friday in Buenos Aires to discuss cooperation in critical mineral supply chains and other areas.

Milei welcomed Lee at the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, in the Argentine capital before the two leaders posed for photographs ahead of their summit.

The two leaders were expected to discuss cooperation in areas ranging from critical minerals to energy and food.

Argentina is the final stop in Lee's three-nation South America tour, which is largely focused on strengthening trade relations and cooperation on critical minerals, among others.

Friday's talks were also expected to cover potential resumption of negotiations on a trade agreement between South Korea and the South American trade bloc Mercosur, according to chief presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

Mercosur is one of the world's largest trade blocs, whose members include Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, along with several associate members.

As part of his ongoing tour, Lee held separate summit talks earlier this week with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast.

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