Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Sunday that it recalled its ambassador to Argentina for consultations following President Javier Milei’s insults directed at Brazilian officials.
Milei, who was in Sao Paulo for an event hosted by allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro, accused Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of being a “thief” and a “delinquent.” He also referred to Supreme Federal Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes as “trash” after Moraes denied Milei a visit to Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest.
The president of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, Minister Edson Fachin, stated that Milei’s comments constituted a “disrespectful reference to a magistrate of the highest court in the country, made on Brazilian soil.”
Ambassador Julio Bitelli was recalled for consultations, a spokesperson for Brazil’s foreign affairs ministry confirmed.
Former Argentine President Alberto Fernández posted on X, formerly Twitter, a video of Milei’s remarks, writing that “Milei went to Brazil shouting like a madman, demanding to see a coup plotter in jail. Insulting the president of a sister nation and our main trading partner is unforgivable.”
Axel Kicillof, the governor of Buenos Aires province and a potential presidential candidate, also contacted Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Sunday to convey that Milei does not represent the feelings of the Argentine people. Kicillof stated that Milei’s provocations are jeopardizing investments, exports, jobs, and Argentina’s interests, all to support a candidate at Trump’s behest.
Lula has not publicly addressed Milei's remarks. However, in an opinion piece published Sunday in The Washington Post, Lula asserted that “Brazil’s destiny is determined only by Brazilians without external interference, without subservience.” These comments followed Brazil's Foreign Ministry’s denial of visas to two U.S. State Department officials who had sought to travel to the South American nation the following week.
Lula is seeking reelection and will run against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, whose family has demonstrated ties with the Trump administration.