Brazil Recalls Ambassador After Milei Insults Lula

Remarks by Argentine President Javier Milei at the Brazilian Liberal Party convention have sparked a diplomatic dispute between Brazil and Argentina.

Brazil recalled its ambassador to Argentina for consultations and summoned the Argentine ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brasília.

The move followed Milei's speech at the party convention, during which he described Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as “a thief” and “a convict”. Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there was no precedent for a foreign head of state attacking and insulting the Brazilian president and the Brazilian people while on Brazilian soil.

The Liberal Party convention also nominated Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, as its presidential candidate. He is widely regarded as the main challenger to President Lula in the next election.

(Reuters, bak)