President Javier Milei ordered Argentine officials to withdraw from the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday. At the time of writing, the government had not provided specific reasons for the sudden withdrawal, and the Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the Herald’s requests for comment.

According to the Herald’s sister publication Ambito, at least three government representatives from the Foreign Ministry and the Tourism Ministry were given a “non-negotiable” order to suspend all activities and return to Argentina. The officials in question had not been allowed to participate in the debates of the summit during the two days prior. Delegates sent by Argentine provinces were permitted to stay behind in Baku.

“Without knowing the reasons why Argentina has withdrawn from negotiations, this decision is unprecedented and signifies a change in direction in the country’s international negotiations. Argentina has always stood out for being active and assertive in international negotiations. This change won’t be innocuous, it will have significant consequences for Argentina, and I don’t see that they will be positive,” said Andrés Nápoli, executive director of Argentine environmental nonprofit FARN, in a press release.