BUENOS AIRES, April 12 (Reuters) - Billionaire Elon Musk

and Argentina's libertarian president promised to work together

on Friday to promote free markets as well as potential lithium

projects after the two likeminded men met in Texas, home to the

tycoon's Tesla electric car company.

The chief spokesman to President Javier Milei said the pair

visited Tesla's Austin headquarters and discussed a variety of

topics, from the need to boost declining birthrates worldwide to

pursuing technological development while defending "liberty."

Musk, one of the world's richest men, has previously

showed his admiration for Milei's full-throated embrace of

private enterprise and his distain for what he sees as socialist

excesses.

In comments to local media, Argentina's incoming

ambassador to the United States, Gerardo Werthein, noted that

Musk and Milei also discussed lithium, the ultra-light metal

seen as key for the rechargeable batteries needed for future

fleets of electric vehicles.

"We talked about the investment opportunities in

Argentina in lithium... We're very committed not only to

exporting raw materials but also to adding value," said Werthein

in comments published by newspaper La Nacion.

"(Musk) said he wants to help Argentina," added

Werthein.

Milei also offered his support for the dispute over Musk's

social media platform X, previously Twitter, playing out in

Brazil, according to the statement from Milei's spokesman Manuel

Adorni, which was posted on X.

Last Sunday, a Brazilian Supreme Court judge opened an

investigation into Musk after the billionaire said he would

reinstate X accounts that the judge had ordered blocked.