Letter to la Sra. Presidenta de la Nación Argentina, Dra. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner:

Estimada Sra. Presidenta,

Forgive me if this impassioned plea seems a little forward. After all, we hardly know each other. But to come straight to the point: My mixed parentage has given me dual nationality, British and French. While this is awfully handy, truth be told, I'd happily trade my French citizenship for that of the Argentine. Now, I realise my new combination of passports might seem strange bedfellows, given the skirmish that took place some time ago in the South Atlantic. But I, for one, have moved on.

Here in Inglaterra, I'm your most fervent ambassador. Let's begin with the phenomenal natural beauty of your country. From the tropical north to the barren glacial south, from the Andean peaks to the pampas around Buenos Aires to the roaring waterfalls of Iguazu, it's hard to think of a nation with a greater diversity of incredible landscapes.

I do have my favourites. The hiking and biking around Salta are amazing. The Península Valdés and its wildlife are treasures. There's no finer view than across Lago Nahuel Huapí from lakeside Villa la Angostura. I adore the historic estancias in ranch country. And every inch of Patagonia, from the Rio Colorado down to Ushuaia and over to the masterpiece of the Perito Moreno Glacier. (By the way, I have my eye on an old observatory along the road to El Chaltén – let's talk.)

Like my dear friend Hudson, I am a Patagonian at heart. In settling that wild region, your predecessors did well to invite the toughest Croats, Serbs, Basques, Spaniards, Italians – and of course the odd Brit. With such stock, it's not surprising Argentina has always thrived despite adversity. Amidst hardship in the early 1900s, you created tango, which has morphed into techno-tango. When things weren't great in the '90s, progressive architects revitalised parts of Buenos Aires that are now flourishing. Then there's your cultivation of the Malbec grape, and the genius of winemakers like Nicolás Catena Zapata.

I could go on. But the executive summary, Sra. Presidenta, is that I'm in love with your country (as are many of our clients). So please have your officials forward all relevant paperwork, and I'll hope that we can expedite matters at your earliest convenience.

Atentamente,
P. Brown