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Brazil Cuts Presence in Argentina 08/05 06:19
SAO PAULO (AP) -- Brazil's government on Tuesday announced it is reducing
its diplomatic presence in Argentina after renewed attacks by Argentine
President Javier Milei on his counterpart Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.
It is the first time in recent history that such a move takes place between
the two neighbors.
A spokesperson for Brazil's foreign office told The Associated Press that
Milei has called Lula "a thief" three times since Sunday. He used similar
wording on July 25 at the party convention of Sen. Flvio Bolsonaro, son of the
former president who will be Lula's rival in October's election.
Milei also accused Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes of being
"trash" during the convention. De Moraes denied a request by the Argentine
president to visit former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest
serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt.
The Brazilian government recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires, Julio
Bitelli, in July, a day after Milei's first remarks against Lula. Since then,
Brazil's interests in Argentina are represented by a charg d'affaires, a
lower-ranked position.
Bitelli will not return to Argentina as long as Milei continues to make
aggressive comments toward Lula, the spokesperson said.
The Brazilian president has not commented on Milei's remarks. The two have
had a frosty relationship since the Argentine leader took office in December
2023.
Milei is a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration
is at odds with Lula. Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department revoked the
visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington in retaliation for Brazil's denial of
visas last month for two American diplomats who sought to visit ahead of
upcoming elections.
Lula was officially declared candidate for reelection Sunday at his Workers'
Party convention, where many voiced concerns of foreign interference in the
country's vote.
Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, a conservative who will once again be Lula's
running mate, said the country's electronic voting system was so effective that
"it doesn't accept any votes from Argentines and Americans," in a reference to
Milei and Trump.
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