Lead

Brazil has downgraded its diplomatic mission in Buenos Aires to the level of charge d'affaires, a move that Argentina says it will not answer with diplomatic measures of its own. The decision follows a series of public attacks by Argentine President Javier Milei on Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whom he has repeatedly called a "thief" and "corrupt."

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Al Jazeera, the BBC, and the Buenos Aires Times (including an AFP wire story) agree on the core sequence: Milei's comments, made during a television interview and at a rally in São Paulo, prompted Brazil to recall its ambassador and later downgrade the mission. The Buenos Aires Times, citing an AFP source at Brazil's Foreign Ministry, reported that the downgrade will remain in effect as long as Milei's "attacks" on Brazilian democratic institutions persist.

Argentina's Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said on Wednesday that Buenos Aires would not respond with diplomatic measures, according to Al Jazeera. The Buenos Aires Times also reported that Argentine officials sought to lower the temperature during the week, with Quirno saying there was no possibility of a rupture with Brazil, Argentina's largest trading partner.

Key Claims

  • Brazil recalled its ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, after Milei's remarks, and later downgraded its mission to the level of charge d'affaires, as reported by the BBC and the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Milei called Lula a "thief" and "corrupt" in a television interview on Sunday, and had earlier referred to him as a "convict" at a rally in São Paulo, according to Al Jazeera and the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Milei defended his comments, saying, "Calling a thief a 'thief' is far less serious than the act of stealing itself," as quoted by the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Lula spent 580 days in prison after being convicted in the Operation Car Wash corruption investigation, but his conviction was later overturned on procedural grounds, with the presiding judge found to have acted with bias, according to Al Jazeera and the Buenos Aires Times.
  • The BBC reported that Lula was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2018 over a corruption and bribery scandal, but was released after serving a little over 18 months; his convictions were annulled by the Supreme Court in 2021.
  • Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, is running for president in Brazil's October election, as reported by the BBC and the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in jail for plotting a coup, according to the BBC.
  • Brazil is also involved in a separate diplomatic dispute with the United States, as noted by Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

Argentina's government

Argentina's government, through Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, said it would not respond with diplomatic measures and sought to lower the temperature, emphasizing that there was no possibility of a rupture with Brazil, its largest trading partner. Presidential spokesperson Adrián Ravier described the episode as stemming from "ideological and political differences."

President Javier Milei

Milei defended his comments, arguing that calling Lula a thief is less serious than the act of stealing itself. He said, "He's a thief, he's corrupt, he's been convicted of theft and corruption, he's been in prison, so it's true that we can call him a convict," and added, "I'm doing this because I'm a champion of the ideals of freedom."

Brazil's Foreign Ministry

A source at Brazil's Foreign Ministry told AFP that the downgrade of relations with Argentina would remain in effect as long as Milei's attacks on Brazilian democratic institutions persist. The source also said that the decision to have Argentina's ambassador leave Buenos Aires was Argentina's own, contrary to earlier statements from Buenos Aires.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Lula said he would continue to lead "without anyone's interference," adding, "In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn't belong," as reported by the BBC.