Brazil on Friday recalled its ambassador to Argentina in a stinging diplomatic protest after Argentine President Javier Milei made a series of inflammatory remarks aimed at Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian government and members of the country’s judiciary during a political event in São Paulo. It is one of the most serious diplomatic disputes between South America’s two biggest economies since Milei entered office.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Sunday, following a consultation between Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and President Lula. Ambassador Julio Bitelli was sent home from Buenos Aires “for consultations,” a diplomatic term used for moments of high tension between countries. Brazilian officials condemned Milei’s remarks as a “direct attack” on the country’s institutions and leadership.
The diplomatic spat began after Milei flew to Brazil for a political conference that formally nominated Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, as his party’s presidential candidate. In his speech, Milei called Lula a “convict” and “thief,” called Brazil’s government “thieving socialists,” and told supporters to back Bolsonaro’s campaign to “stop Lula.” He also attacked Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, hurling abuse at Justice Alexandre de Moraes after the judge denied Milei permission to meet Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a prison sentence under house arrest after his conviction for an attempted coup.
But the Brazilian authorities acted quickly. Milei’s comments, Edson Fachin, president of the Supreme Federal Court, said, were “disrespectful attacks on Brazil’s democratic institutions carried out on Brazilian soil.” Officials highlighted that while Brazil respects freedom of political expression, public insults of Brazil’s head of state and judiciary by a visiting foreign leader crossed a diplomatic line.
The recent spat further erodes an already frigid bond between Lula and Milei. Since taking office as president of Argentina, Milei has been an outspoken critic of Lula’s left-wing government and Lula has shown little interest in talking with his Argentine counterpart. There has been no formal bilateral encounter between the two leaders despite being presidents of nearby nations with strong trade links and membership in regional institutions.
Political figures in Argentina have also denounced Milei’s comments. Ex-President Alberto Fernández and Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof stated that the president’s rhetoric does not reflect the opinions of many Argentines and cautioned that such words could harm relations with Brazil, Argentina’s major trading partner. Despite political difficulties, economists say both countries are still deeply dependent on each other through trade, notably in the automobile, agriculture and energy industries.
The recall of an ambassador is not the same as cutting diplomatic relations, but observers say it is a strong indication of Brazil’s displeasure. The consultation period is a chance for the government to examine its diplomatic stance and to consider if further actions are warranted should ties continue to deteriorate.
The event occurs in an already fraught election season in Brazil, with Lula running for re-election and Flávio Bolsonaro as the leading conservative contender. Milei’s decision to campaign with Bolsonaro adds another degree of political sensitivity to an already tense bilateral relationship, raising questions about future cooperation between the two South American countries.
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