Brazil recalls ambassador, downgrades Argentina ties over Milei's insults to Lula

Brazil has downgraded its diplomatic ties with Argentina to the level of charge d'affaires, a move not seen in decades, following a series of insults from Argentine President Javier Milei directed at Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The Brazilian government summoned the Argentine ambassador, Daniel Raimondi, to the Itamaraty palace, where Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira formally protested Milei's remarks. Brazil stated that it had shown considerable patience but that the repeated offenses against its president made this decision inevitable.

Milei's recent media appearances, where he reiterated his claims that Lula is a "thief" and a "convict," intensified Brazil's anger. Milei based his assertions on the fact that Lula's conviction was annulled due to a "administrative error" by the Brazilian judiciary, without proving the Brazilian president's innocence. Milei defended his statements by saying, "I have horrible ways but I tell the truth."

The relationship had already been strained by Milei's participation in a July 25 convention of the Liberal Party, which nominated Flavio Bolsonaro as a presidential candidate. Brazil had previously recalled its ambassador, Julio Bitelli, for consultations and issued a protest, which seemed to be the peak of the conflict at the time. However, Milei's renewed comments during Brazil's election campaign led to this further diplomatic escalation.