Brazil cuts Argentina diplomatic presence after Milei renews attacks on Lula

Brazil has further reduced its diplomatic presence in Argentina after Javier Milei again insulted Lula. The step sharpens a rare regional rift and adds to election-season tensions involving Washington.

In Short

• Brazil's ambassador to Buenos Aires will stay away amid continuing insults
• Officials said Milei called Lula a thief three times since Sunday
• Milei also attacked Justice Alexandre de Moraes at a Bolsonaro gathering

Brazil said on Tuesday that it is further reducing its diplomatic presence in Argentina after Argentine President Javier Milei renewed his attacks on Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva. The move marks the first such step between the neighbouring countries in recent history.

The latest escalation comes after Milei again referred to Lula in offensive terms, deepening a relationship that has remained tense since the Argentine leader took office in December 2023. Brazil has said its ambassador to Buenos Aires will not return while such remarks continue.

A spokesperson for Brazil's foreign office told The Associated Press that Milei has called Lula "a thief" three times since Sunday. The spokesperson said Milei had used similar language on July 25 at the party convention of Senator Flvio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who will be Lula's rival in October's election.

At the same convention, Milei also described Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as "trash". De Moraes had denied Milei's request to visit former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest and serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt.

Brazil recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, in July, a day after Milei's first remarks against Lula. Since then, Brazil's interests in Argentina have been handled by a charg d'affaires, a lower-ranked diplomatic post. The spokesperson said Bitelli will not return to Argentina as long as Milei continues to make aggressive comments about Lula.

Lula has not commented on Milei's latest remarks. Milei is a close ally of US President Donald Trump, whose administration is at odds with Lula. Earlier on Tuesday, the US State Department revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington in retaliation for Brazil's denial of visas last month to two American diplomats who sought to visit ahead of upcoming elections.

Lula was formally declared a candidate for re-election on Sunday at his Workers' Party convention, where many raised concerns about foreign interference in the country's vote. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, a conservative who will again be Lula's running mate, said Brazil's electronic voting system was so effective that "it does not accept any votes from Argentines and Americans", referring to Milei and Trump.

In sum, Brazil has decided to scale back its diplomatic presence in Argentina as tensions rise over Milei's repeated attacks on Lula, adding to a wider strain involving the two neighbours and the United States ahead of Brazil's election.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends