Flávio Bolsonaro Fled Brazil to US with Aid from Milei's Inner Circle
Flávio Bolsonaro fled Brazil with clandestine assistance from Argentine presidential adviser Santiago Caputo following his election defeat, sparking a major diplomatic crisis between Brasília and Buenos Aires.
Flávio Bolsonaro fled Brazil for Argentina following his defeat in last month's presidential election, receiving clandestine assistance from high-level officials in President Javier Milei's administration, according to an investigation published by The New York Times. Santiago Caputo, a top adviser and confidant to Milei, met Bolsonaro at the Puerto Iguazú airport on October 27. From there, Bolsonaro boarded a private jet that ultimately flew him and his family to Miami.
Covert Coordination and Diplomatic Friction
According to sources involved in the operation, Caputo traveled approximately 1,300 kilometers from Buenos Aires to coordinate Bolsonaro's departure, expediting passport control and flight documents. Although Brazilian authorities had revoked his travel documents and subjected him to multiple criminal investigations, no formal arrest warrant was active when he crossed the border. US President Donald Trump later confirmed that Washington granted Bolsonaro a "special permit" to enter the United States, and a White House official reportedly helped arrange the flight.
While Caputo and the Argentine Foreign Ministry denied any involvement in the escape, Bolsonaro publicly thanked Milei's government on social media for its "courage" and "adherence to the rule of law." Milei's digital communications chief also praised the operation, stating that Bolsonaro was now "safe from the clutches of communism." The incident has further escalated diplomatic tensions between Buenos Aires and Brasília, prompting the Brazilian Foreign Ministry to summon the top Argentine diplomat for explanations, while experts warn of severe economic fallout between the neighboring trade partners.
