President of Argentina called the President of Brazil a "thief" and a "criminal" - and the ambassador was summoned for consultations

Argentine President Javier Milei has called Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a "thief" and a "convicted criminal." The remarks were made at a rally in support of Lula's political rival for the presidency, Flavio Bolsonaro. Following the incident, Brazil announced it would recall its ambassador to Argentina for consultations.

Brazil and Argentina, the two largest and most influential countries in Latin America, have been led in recent years by leaders from opposite ends of the political spectrum, leading to a significant diplomatic confrontation. Milei made the remarks in Sao Paulo at a rally intended to launch the presidential campaign of right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, who is expected to run in the October elections. The Argentine president emphasized that Bolsonaro is the only one who can stop Lula.

Milei also attacked Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the proceedings against Jair Bolsonaro, calling him "bald trash." Moraes had previously refused Milei's request to visit former president Bolsonaro while he was under house arrest.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry stated that Milei had insulted the Brazilian government, its people, and the country's democracy. The President of the Brazilian Supreme Court called Milei's words disrespectful. Lula himself responded indirectly, writing in a column for the Washington Post that he would continue to lead the country without interference, adding that in Brazil, "we do not accept a situation where someone sticks their nose into affairs that are not their own."

The Argentine opposition also condemned Milei's behavior. Former President Alberto Fernandez wrote on X that Milei arrived in Brazil "screaming like a madman," adding: "Insulting the president of a sister nation and our most important trading partner is unforgivable." The Governor of Buenos Aires Province, Axel Kicillof, announced that he had spoken with the Brazilian Foreign Minister to clarify that Milei does not represent the feelings of the Argentine people.

Lula was convicted in 2017 of corruption offenses and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was released in 2019 following a Supreme Court decision, and his conviction was overturned in 2021. The case remains controversial in Brazil: while Lula's supporters claim he was politically persecuted, his opponents argue that the proceedings revealed serious corruption and that he should have served his sentence.