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White House Touts Profitable U.S.–Argentina $20 Billion Swap as Treasury Confirms Gain

The White House is publicly casting the backstop as a money‑making use of U.S. firepower to steady a key partner.

Overview

  • Press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared an op‑ed asserting the currency swap is a profitable deal rather than a bailout for Argentina.
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said only a small share of the line has been activated and that the U.S. booked a gain after intervening with direct peso purchases before Argentina’s elections.
  • Bessent likened the support to co‑signing a first loan and said the Exchange Stabilization Fund, used for the operation, has never lost money.
  • Central bank data show residents bought about US$17.6 billion in dollars over six months after controls were eased, highlighting persistent private demand that strains reserve‑building.
  • The Wall Street Journal credited Luis Caputo and a team of former Wall Street officials with securing U.S. backing, while Morgan Stanley says meaningful reserve accumulation likely follows a debt‑management move and notes roughly US$15 billion may be needed to meet IMF targets by end‑2026.