Argentina is the world's fourth-largest producer of lithium, a critical component to the batteries that power Tesla's electric vehicles.

Musk has expressed an affinity in the past for Milei and his libertarian politics, posting on his messaging platform X that "prosperity is ahead for Argentina," following Milei's election in November.

(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Bill Berkrot)