Argentina's President Javier Milei said Thursday he would be willing to leave the South American Mercosur bloc if necessary to secure a coveted trade agreement with the United States.

Argentina posted a record $18.9 billion trade surplus for 2024, according to official data released on Monday, that largely coincides with libertarian President Javier Milei's first full year on the job.

President Javier Milei says he would leave Mercosur if necessary to cement a free-trade agreement with the United States.

Argentina logged its largest energy trade surplus in nearly two decades last year, the energy secretariat said on Tuesday, marking a win for libertarian President Javier Milei who has vowed to use oil and gas exports to propel the weakened economy out of recession.