US Embassy celebrates Fourth of July in style with Texan barbeque
Beginning at six in the morning June 29, one could smell smoked Texan brisket coming from the Palacio Bosch, the residence of the US Ambassador to Argentina, Edward Prado.
The ambassador chose to throw a celebration inspired by his native state Texas, several days ahead of his country’s independence day.
In his speech, Prado declared that “without a doubt,” relations between the US and Argentina “have never been stronger than they are today.”
“Our shared values have allowed us to collaborate on matters of democracy, human rights, security, co mm er ce, in vestm en tandcultur al and education exchange,” the ambassador, who represents US Presi
dent Donald Trump in Argentina, said. “We collaborate on many levels, from satellites to the development of [the] Vaca Muerta [shale formation].”
The former judge also highlighted that one out of every 44 Argentines – some one million people – visited the US last year, while around 500,000 US citizens visited Argentina in the last 12 months. He also reminded the crowd that the United States is Argentina’s largest outside investor.
Representatives from some of the over 300 US companies that operate in Argentina were present at the event.
Addressing the crisis in Venezuela, Ambassador Prado said that “the same passion for liberty that one sees in the open arms of the statue of liberty, I see in the warm reception that the Argentine community has given to Venezuelans fleeing from a cruel dictatorship.”
Many prominent politicians, journalists, business leaders and diplomats were presentat theevent, including Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, outsider presidential candidate José Luis Espert and British Ambassador Mark Kent.
Regarding the theme of the event, the ambassador likened the Embassy’s barbeque to an Argentina asado, adding humorously that the exception was that Argentines “have your meat with wine where as we have it with beer.”