Argentina commemorated the 209th anniversary of its declaration of independence on 9 July, marking the 1816 signing of the Acta de la Independencia in San Miguel de Tucumán that ended colonial ties with Spain. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni underscored the libertarian message of the current administration, saying, “Hace 209 años elegimos ser libres; hoy volvemos a elegir lo mismo.” Governments and officials across the globe sent formal congratulations. Messages came from Israel’s foreign ministry as well as the foreign ministries of Romania, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine, each highlighting bilateral cooperation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Argentina as “a trusted partner in promoting democratic values worldwide.”