On Tuesday, 25 November, members of the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council (CFCC) gathered in the Attlee Room at the House of Lords for a dinner with Her Excellency Mariana Plaza, Ambassador of Argentina to the United Kingdom. The Ambassador was warmly welcomed by Baroness Meyer, Chairman of the CFCC.
Her Excellency Mariana Plaza brings an extensive diplomatic career, having held senior roles including Chief of Cabinet for the Deputy Foreign Secretary and the Under-secretariat for International Economic Negotiations, with a particular focus on MERCOSUR. Her professional experience spans three continents, with postings to the Argentine Mission in Montevideo and the Embassy in Kenya. From 2019, she served as Head of the Political Section, and from 2020 as Deputy Head of Mission in London, before assuming her role as Argentine Ambassador in 2024.
Guests enjoyed dinner before Baroness Hooper welcomed attendees, the Ambassador, and her husband, Minister Gonzalo Ortiz de Zárate. Baroness Hooper provided a brief outline of the Ambassador’s career, describing her as “a breath of fresh air”.
In her address, Her Excellency spoke about the long-standing relationship between Argentina and the United Kingdom, highlighting historical connections through trade, immigration, culture, and education. She noted that 2024 marks 200 years since the first bilateral agreement between the two countries.
The Ambassador reflected on Argentina’s independence 216 years ago and the subsequent waves of immigration from across the United Kingdom. She referenced early Scottish settlers who arrived aboard the ship Symmetry, as well as Welsh communities who settled in Patagonia in the 1860s, where the Welsh language continues to be spoken today.
She also discussed Argentina’s economic development, particularly its role as a major food provider until the 1930s, and the contributions of UK immigrants to sectors such as banking, finance, communications, and shipping. Among these historical ties, she noted that Buenos Aires was once home to the only Harrods store outside London.
Addressing more recent history, Her Excellency acknowledged the South Atlantic conflict of the 1980s and noted that while diplomatic relations were re-established in the 1990s, both countries have maintained dialogue and communication despite differing national positions.
The Ambassador described Argentina as a unique country with so much potential. The eighth largest in the world, “it is going from strength to strength under President Javier Milei”. Change has come through Argentina’s young people. The President spoke to them and to many others, encouraging a new spirit, bringing about a changing attitude. The Ambassador mentioned the Ley Bases a bill passed in Congress described as a framework for the freedom of the Argentine people. She mentioned the three main pillars that the Ley Bases rests on, which are the deregulation of the state, promoting investments, and decreasing the weight of the state in the economy. Along with the Government’s policies, it helped to create a stable macroeconomic environment and rebuild Argentina’s credibility. The President continues to have massive support throughout the country.
Following the address, Baroness Hooper thanked the Ambassador for her work in keeping Argentina on the agenda of the UK Government and opened the floor for questions.
In closing, Her Excellency shared that among the values she would take back from the United Kingdom were its traditions, which she believes contribute to institutional stability and the strengthening of the rule of law.
Among those present were Ms Rebeca Riofrio, Dr Trevor Lee, Mrs Marilyn Clark, Mr Elvijs Plugis, Mr Graham Old, Ms Julia Kernick, Mrs Rosamund Blomfield-Smith, Ms Sue Whitting, Mr Lee Morton, Mr Chris Vary, Ms Belinda Donovan, Mrs Sarah O’Connell and Ms Anna Richmond, along with other guests.
https://www.cfcconline.org.uk/
Photos by: Guy Lucas
Last modified: December 18, 2025
