Brazil recalls ambassador to Argentina over Milei's remarks

During a visit to Brazil to support far-right presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, Argentina's president called the Brazilian leader a "convict" and a "thief."

Brazil recalled its ambassador to Argentina on Sunday after Argentinian President Javier Milei insulted his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a visit to the country.

"There is no precedent for a foreign president, on national territory, to hurl insults and offenses at the head of state, democratic institutions, including the judiciary, and the Brazilian people," Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Brazil has also summoned Argentina's ambassador to discuss those "insults," a Brazilian diplomatic source told the AFP news agency.

What did Milei say?

Argentina's libertarian leader visited Sao Paulo on Saturday to attend a political event for Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of the former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who is set to run for president against Lula.

In a speech at the event, Milei called Brazil's leftist incumbent president a "convict," a "delinquent" and a "thief," without naming him explicitly.

Milei also referred to Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as "bald trash" — again, without referring to him by name.

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."

Argentinian lawmakers denounce Milei's comments

Former Argentine president Alberto Fernandez posted a video on X on Sunday exposing Milei's insults.

"Milei went to Brazil shouting like a madman, demanding to see a coup plotter in jail," he wrote. "Insulting the president of a sister nation and our main trading partner is unforgivable."

Additionally, the governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, a potential candidate in next year's general elections, announced on X that he contacted Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira 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 Argentina respects its sister nations and is committed to regional integration."

Edited by: Zac Crellin

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