Photo credit: RFI
Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Sunday that it recalled its ambassador to Argentina after President Javier Milei insulted Brazilian officials while in their country.
The Associated Press reports that the decision comes a day after Milei was in Sao Paulo participating in an event where Brazilian Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, a son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, was confirmed as the presidential candidate of his father’s party.
During his speech at Saturday’s event, Milei accused Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of being a “thief” and a “delinquent,” among other things. Milei also accused Supreme Federal Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes of being “trash” after he denied the Argentine president a visit to Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest serving a 27-year sentence over a coup attempt.
The president of the Supreme Federal Court, Minister Edson Fachin, said Milei’s comments were a “disrespectful reference to a magistrate of the highest court in the country, made on Brazilian soil.”
A spokesperson for Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Ambassador Julio Bitelli was recalled for consultation following Milei’s statements.
Former Argentine President Alberto Fernandez posted a video on social media exposing Milei’s insults.
Meanwhile, the governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, announced on social media that he contacted the Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Viera on Sunday “to convey that Milei does not represent the feelings of the Argentine people.”
He said he watched “with profound shame as President Milei offended and insulted the Brazilian government, its president, and the entire country. From the province of Buenos Aires, we maintain that Srgdentina respects its sister nations and is committed to regional integration.”
Kicillof noted that Brazil is Argentina’s main trading partner and asserted that “with these provocations, Milei is jeopardizing investments, exports, thousands of jobs, and Argentina’s interests, all to support a candidate at Trump’s behest.”
While Lila has not publicly addressed Milei’s remarks, in an opinion piece published by The Washington Post on Sunday, in which he called US tariffs against Brazil “a strategic mistake,” he asserted that “Brazil’s destiny is determined only by Brazilians without external interference, without subservience.”
Those comments came a day after Brazil’s Foreign Minister denied visas to two US State Department officials who sought to travel to the country next week. The ministry did not explain.
Lula is seeking reelection and will run against Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, whose family has many ties with the Trump administration.
