The Brazilian Government announced Tuesday that it is reducing its diplomatic presence in Argentina, following renewed attacks from Argentine President Javier Milei against counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
This marks the first time in recent history that such a measure has occurred between the two neighboring countries. A spokesperson for Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Associated Press that Milei has called Lula “a thief” three times since Sunday.
Milei used similar language on July 25 at the party convention of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of the former president who will face Lula in October’s elections. Milei also called Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes “trash” during the same convention. Moraes had denied a request from the Argentine president to visit former President Jair Bolsonaro, who remains under house arrest serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup.
The Brazilian Government withdrew its ambassador in Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, in July, one day after Milei’s first remarks against Lula. Since then, Brazil’s interests in Argentina have been represented by a chargé d’affaires, a lower-ranking diplomatic post.
Read more about this topic: Brazil recalls ambassador after Milei’s insults anger officials
Bitelli will not return to Argentina as long as Milei continues making aggressive comments about Lula, the spokesperson said. The Brazilian president has not commented on Milei’s remarks. The two leaders have maintained a cold relationship since the Argentine leader took office in December 2023.
Milei is a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has also maintained tensions and conflicts with Lula’s government. Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. State Department revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador in Washington, in retaliation for Brazil having denied visas last month to two American diplomats who intended to visit the country ahead of the upcoming elections.
Lula was officially declared a candidate for reelection on Sunday, at his Workers’ Party convention, where many expressed concern over foreign interference in the country’s elections. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, a conservative who will once again be Lula’s running mate, said the country’s electronic voting system is so effective that it “doesn’t accept votes from Argentines or Americans,” a reference to Milei and Trump.
