Brazil ambassador to return as Argentina moves to de-escalate Milei-Lula spat

Argentina is beginning to de-escalate a diplomatic conflict with Brazil, sparked by President Javier Milei's inflammatory remarks about his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. While mutual distrust and recriminations linger, the first steps toward diplomatic normalization are underway.

Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno dismissed the possibility of a diplomatic rupture with Brazil, Argentina's primary trading partner. He also avoided further direct attacks on Brazil. Meanwhile, Brazil's Foreign Ministry, Itamaraty, has indicated that Ambassador Julio Bitelli, who was recalled to Brasília for consultations, will return to Buenos Aires. However, no specific timeline has been set for his return.

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Who is this guy?

The dispute ignited when Milei, at a political convention in São Paulo, referred to Lula da Silva as a "thief" and a "convict." This prompted a strong reaction from Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who called the comments an "unprecedented provocation" and recalled Ambassador Bitelli. Other Brazilian officials, including Finance Minister Dario Durigan and Vice President Gerardo Alckmin, also condemned Milei's statements.

Lula da Silva himself responded with irony, questioning, "Who is this guy?" The Brazilian ruling party, PT, filed a lawsuit to investigate the financing of Milei's trip, which the Argentine government described as "official." Despite the ongoing tension, including Milei's subsequent claims about a Brazilian-backed "anti-Argentine campaign" on social media, Brazil's intention appears to be lowering the diplomatic temperature.

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He will return, the issue is when.