Despite Lula-Milei rupture, Brazil reaffirms support for Argentina’s sovereignty over the Falklands

Brazil’s support for Argentina’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands is “unchanging” and dates back to 1833, Brazil’s chargé d’affaires in Buenos Aires said during a formal celebration at the Teatro Colón.

Eduardo Uziel made the declaration at a crowded reception marking Brazil’s National Day, attended by politicians, lawmakers, business leaders and ambassadors, including Britain’s David Cairns and China’s Wang Wei. He opened by referring to the absence of Brazil’s ambassador, Julio Bitelli, who was not present for “reasons we all know.”

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Unchanging since 1833.

Bitelli was withdrawn by Lula’s government in August, leaving the embassy under a chargé d’affaires. Argentina’s ambassador in Brasília, Daniel Raimondi, also returned to Buenos Aires. The moves followed repeated insults from Argentine President Javier Milei toward Lula, including calling him “garbage,” “corrupt” and a “thief.” Milei also attacked Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

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We are living in strange times.

Uziel said the recent period had been unusually difficult. He recalled that Bitelli had paraphrased Jorge Luis Borges the previous year by saying, “We are living in strange times,” then added: “I don’t think anyone back then could have imagined that our time would become even stranger.”

The diplomat presented the reception as an opportunity to reaffirm more than two centuries of friendship between Brazil and Argentina. He described the relationship as “deep, strategic and mutually beneficial,” and said it should be cultivated beyond temporary disagreements. “The friendship is independent of governments, of football, greater than any fantasy, stronger than any pettiness or temporary short-sightedness,” he said.

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I don’t think anyone back then could have imagined that our time would become even stranger.

He then emphasized that Brazil’s backing for Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands had remained a state policy “always out of conviction.” The event took place during what the article describes as the worst bilateral crisis of the current period. Argentina’s Foreign Ministry sent lower-ranking officials to the ceremony, while opposition lawmakers had recently traveled to Brazil to meet Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. The article says the direction of the relationship may become clearer after the Oct. 4 election, in which Lula will either be reelected or lose to Flavio Bolsonaro.

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The friendship is independent of governments, of football, greater than any fantasy, stronger than any pettiness or temporary short-sightedness.