Brazil Recalls Ambassador, Expels Argentine Envoy Amid Insult Row

Brazil has demanded that Argentina's ambassador leave the country, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two South American neighbors. Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the decision on Tuesday, citing a diplomatic dispute fueled by repeated insults from Argentine President Javier Milei directed at his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The Brazilian government has also decided to downgrade its diplomatic presence in Argentina, recalling its ambassador. While the ambassador will depart, Brazil will retain a chargé d'affaires, a diplomat of a lower rank, in Argentina, according to the Argentine Foreign Ministry.

The diplomatic spat intensified after Milei, in a television interview on Sunday, doubled down on his previous statements about President Lula. "He is a thief, he is corrupt, he has been convicted of theft and corruption, he has been in prison, so it is correct to call him a convicted criminal," Milei stated, reaffirming his critical stance.

This exchange highlights the deep political divisions and personal animosity that have characterized the relationship between the two leaders since Milei took office. The expulsion of the ambassador signifies a severe rupture in diplomatic relations, impacting bilateral cooperation and regional stability.

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He is a thief, he is corrupt, he has been convicted of theft and corruption, he has been in prison, so it is correct to call him a convicted criminal.