Brazil recalls ambassador to Argentina over Milei speech

Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Argentina for consultations following "insults" levelled by President Javier Milei against his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The comments were made by Mr Milei at a Sao Paulo political event, the foreign ministry said.

The libertarian leader of Argentina referred to Brazil's leftist incumbent president as a "convict" and a "thief", without naming him explicitly, during an event on Saturday formally nominating right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro to run in upcoming elections.

Mr Milei also referred to - without naming him directly - Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as "bald trash."

Mr Milei "insulted two branches of government, the Brazilian people and Brazilian democracy," a Brazilian diplomatic source told AFP.

Brazil's government also summoned Argentina's ambassador to discuss those "insults," the source told AFP.

Speaking at a union event, Mr Lula said he will continue to lead "without anyone's interference," because "in Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn't belong."

The Brazilian leader did not specify a target for the comments.

World Cup drama

Mr Milei told Argentina's Radio Mitre that the country was the subject of a negative "campaign" financed by Brazil and Mexico - Latin American countries with leftist leaders - and the Democratic party in the US.

"They're the progressive leaders who don't want the ideas of freedom to work," Mr Milei said.

Mr Milei, who provided no concrete evidence of such a campaign or its alleged funding, appeared to be referring in part to criticism directed at Argentina's national team during the World Cup.

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the tournament final, in a foul-heavy match that ended with a brawl on the pitch and the Argentine squad turning its back during the trophy ceremony.

Critics slammed the Argentine squad for poor sportsmanship in the wake of the loss.

The Argentine president had flown to Brazil for Saturday's event with Mr Bolsonaro and warned in a speech against a supposed "Lula risk" hanging over the country, urging Brazil to break free from "subjugation to the left".

Mr Milei also said that Mr Moraes had prevented him from visiting his "unjustly imprisoned friend" Jair Bolsonaro - Flavio's father and the former president (2019–2022), who was convicted of plotting a coup in 2022.

Bolsanro was sentenced to 27 years in jail but Brazil's conservative-majority Congress passed a law in April reducing his prison term to a little over two years.

Mr Moraes, who oversaw the conviction of Bolsonaro, had previously denied Mr Milei permission to visit the former president while he is under house arrest in Brasilia.