BUENOS AIRES/BRASÍLIA, July 27: A fresh diplomatic dispute has erupted between Brazil and Argentina after Argentine President Javier Milei referred to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a “thief” during a political event in Brazil, prompting Brasília to recall its ambassador from Buenos Aires.
Milei made the remarks on Sunday while attending a campaign rally in São Paulo in support of pro-U.S. presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro. Although he did not mention Lula by name, he described the Brazilian leader as a “thief” and a “convicted criminal.”
In response, Brazil announced that it would withdraw its ambassador from Argentina, saying Milei’s comments were an unacceptable insult to the Brazilian government, its people, and the country’s democratic institutions.
Speaking at a separate event, President Lula warned that Brazil would not tolerate foreign interference in its domestic affairs and said his government would continue to govern independently.
According to AFP, Brazil’s ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, is expected to return to Brasília by Monday.
Lula was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2018 on corruption-related charges and served more than 18 months before being released. In 2021, Brazil’s Supreme Court annulled his convictions, clearing the way for his political comeback.
In 2022, Lula defeated then far-right President Jair Bolsonaro with 50.9 percent of the vote to return to the presidency.
