Argentinian President Javier Milei (left) and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (right). File photo.
The government of Brazil announced that it was downgrading the level of its diplomatic relations with Argentina to that of chargé d’affaires, and that Ambassador Julio Bitelli will not be returning to Buenos Aires.
The measure, announced on Tuesday, August 4, is in response to the continuous insults from President Javier Milei against his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, reports Argentinian news outlet Página12.
The decision was communicated directly to the Argentinian ambassador in Brasília, Daniel Raimondi, so the continuity of the Argentinian diplomat in Brasília will depend on the decisions made by the Argentinian government.
In this way, Brazilian authorities will maintain their institutional representation in Argentina through a lower-ranking official, a political stance that reaffirms Brazil’s displeasure and formalizes a distancing between the two governments.
Milei undid all diplomatic progress
The trigger for the measure has been Milei’s constant insults against Lula. The latest episode occurred during a broadcast stream in which Milei called his Brazilian counterpart “corrupt” and “a thief,” and at the same time— in a clear act of interference—expressed his support for the far-right in the upcoming elections in October.
Milei also highlighted that Lula “was imprisoned for corruption”—without mentioning the fact that the case against Lula is considered as a classic case lawfare, and accused him, without evidence, of allegedly “interfering” in the 2023 Argentinian electoral campaign to favor the then-candidate of Peronism, Sergio Massa.
Before this, Milei had traveled to openly support the far-right candidate in the Brazilian presidential election, Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently imprisoned for a criminal coup conspiracy.
During that visit, Milei also targeted the judge of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court, Alexandre de Moraes, an act that prompted the diplomatic call for consultations of Bitelli to his home country.
On that occasion, Argentinian Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno sought to alleviate the tension with moderate statements. However, Milei’s new insults undid the previous diplomatic advances and prompted a firm response from the Brazilian presidency.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/CD
