Argentina's presidential spokesperson cites social media for Milei's Brazil funding claims

Argentine presidential spokesperson Adrián Ravier attempted to clarify President Javier Milei's controversial accusations that Brazil had funded an "anti-Argentine campaign." The allegations prompted Brazil to recall its ambassador from Buenos Aires, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two South American neighbors.

During a press conference, Ravier responded to a journalist's inquiry about the basis for Milei's claims. The journalist specifically asked for the "data, report, or intelligence" Milei used to assert that Brazil, along with Mexico and the US Democratic Party, had provided funds to discredit Argentina.

Ravier initially suggested that the information originated from "social media," acknowledging that these sources "would need to be evaluated." He also referenced a statement by Brazil's foreign minister denying any such campaign. The spokesperson noted that Milei's comments might have been a broader hypothesis about left-wing governments operating against Argentina, rather than a direct accusation of financial backing from Brazil.

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There are sources that come from social media, which would need to be evaluated. In principle, what we see has been a sentiment or an animosity against Argentines around the World Cup and according to the figure of the President, for the liberalism that he expresses, which ultimately allows us to observe that this sentiment is not just about the Argentine squad, if it is violent in the game or violates some norm, but that there is something more that has to do with the President.

However, the journalist pressed Ravier, emphasizing that Milei had explicitly mentioned funding from Brazil, Mexico, and the Democratic Party. The spokesperson conceded that he did not have the specific sources readily available but offered to provide them later. He did mention observing "animosity against Argentines" around the World Cup and related to Milei's liberal ideology, suggesting this sentiment might extend beyond mere sports rivalry.

The exchange highlighted the lack of concrete evidence presented by the Argentine government to substantiate the serious diplomatic accusations, leaving the nature and origin of Milei's claims unclear.

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We would have to look for the sources mentioned in relation to the Democratic Party, Brazil, Mexico or Spain. At the moment I do not have those sources to provide them to you, but we will offer them later.