Brazil repudiates Javier Milei's insults against Lula, summons ambassador

Brazil's government has issued a strong statement condemning remarks made by Argentine President Javier Milei against Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, calling them "unprecedented" and "especially regrettable." The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Argentina's ambassador, Daniel Raimondi, on Sunday to convey the official rejection of Milei's declarations and to seek explanations for his conduct during a visit to São Paulo on July 25.

Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira also instructed Brazil's ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, to return for consultations. Bitelli is expected in Brasília on Monday for discussions with Vieira, and a meeting with President Lula himself, the direct target of Milei's insults, has not been ruled out. The summoning of an ambassador for consultations is a diplomatic measure indicating significant bilateral tension, used to evaluate critical situations without resorting to a full break in relations.

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There is no precedent for a foreign president who, on national territory, has accumulated aggressions and offenses against the Head of State, the democratic institutions, including the Judiciary, and the Brazilian people.

The Brazilian government's statement highlighted that there is "no precedent for a foreign president who, on national territory, has accumulated aggressions and offenses against the Head of State, the democratic institutions, including the Judiciary, and the Brazilian people." The ministry considered it "especially lamentable" that such incidents occurred involving the president of Argentina, a nation with which Brazil shares 203 years of friendship and cooperation, and which counts Brazil as its principal trading partner.

Milei reportedly referred to Lula as "leftist," "thief," and "convict" during the launch of Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential candidacy in São Paulo. This incident marks not the first time a country has recalled its ambassador during Milei's presidency; a notable instance occurred in May 2024 when Spain temporarily withdrew its ambassador.

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It is especially lamentable that the episode involved the president of Argentina, a country with which Brazil maintains 203 years of friendship and cooperation and which has, in Brazil, its main trading partner.