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Original article: “¿Quién es ese tipo?”: Lula ningunea a Milei mientras escala la crisis entre Brasil y Argentina

«Who is that guy?», responded Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva when asked by the press about Argentine President Javier Milei, amidst a tense diplomatic crisis between the two nations.

The trigger for the escalating tensions was Milei’s participation in a Liberal Party campaign event, where he backed Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, as a far-right presidential candidate to challenge Lula in the upcoming elections on October 4.

During this event, he not only launched direct insults against the progressive leader, calling him a convict, corrupt thief, socialist trash, and other hate-laden expressions, but he also violently attacked Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes.

In response to the derogatory comments and hate speech from the so-called «libertarian,» the Brazilian government called in its ambassador in Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, marking a significant turning point in bilateral relations.

This decision, communicated directly by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira to the diplomatic mission in Argentina, involves the immediate return of the diplomat to Brasilia.

Simultaneously, Vieira held meetings with both Bitelli and Argentine Ambassador Daniel Raimondi, clarifying that this incident is unprecedented in over two centuries of bilateral relations.

«There are no precedents for a foreign president who, on national territory, has accumulated such assaults and offenses against the Head of State, democratic institutions, including the Judiciary, and the Brazilian people,» stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 «It is especially regrettable that this humiliating episode involves the president of a country with which Brazil has maintained 203 years of friendship and cooperation and that has Brazil as its main trading partner,» emphasized officials from the Itamaraty Palace.

According to reports from Página/12, one of the demands from the «very angry» Foreign Minister Vieira was the removal of the Argentine consul in São Paulo, Luis Kreckler, for endorsing the insults directed at the Brazilian president. Kreckler, a career diplomat who has served as ambassador in Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, and China, is now being blamed by some sectors for the serious deterioration of Argentine diplomacy. Other analysts, however, suggest that Raimondi may be seeking a «scapegoat» to defuse tensions amid the escalating conflict.

The incident is not viewed in Brazil as an isolated event but rather as part of Milei’s alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump and his desire to position himself as a regional far-right leader.

Reports from the neighboring country indicate that Milei’s support for the Bolsonaro family is linked to a geopolitical strategy associated with Trump’s interests in ousting China from the region and seizing the natural resources they consider their «backyard.»

«It would be very odd for Milei to apologize»

This context exacerbates the diplomatic crisis since Brazil is Argentina’s main trading partner, and any strain in their relationship could have significant economic consequences.

In the inner circle of the «libertarian,» consulted by the cited newspaper, opinions suggest that «it would be very odd for Milei to apologize,» as his statements are considered «genuine» and reflect his friendship with the Bolsonaros and frustration over not being able to visit his friend Jair in prison, following the Supreme Court of Brazil’s refusal.

Foreign Minister Vieira condemned that Milei undertook a private trip to participate in a party event, with his comments labeled as «aggressive» and a violation of Brazil’s internal matters.

Brazil’s Finance Minister, Dário Durigan, also joined in the harsh criticism: «The clown of the Argentine president came to Brazil and talked about Brazil, while Argentina’s country risk, public debt, and inflation are much higher.»

Milei Seeks to Influence Brazil’s Presidential Elections

Milei and Lula will not meet at the upcoming inauguration of Keiko Fujimori as President of Peru, as the far-right leader plans to attend and hold bilateral meetings with the new head of state of his political alliance.

Página/12 noted that in Brasília, they are well aware of the subordinate role Milei plays regarding Washington and how that influences his intention to impact the Brazilian presidential elections on October 4.

While the neighboring country is not currently analyzing a scenario of breaking diplomatic relations, everything will depend on the next steps taken by the leader, as members of various political factions in Congress have presented declarations condemning the statements made by the «libertarian,» warning that his behavior «puts at risk the historical bonds of brotherhood and strategic cooperation between both nations.»

La entrada «Who is that guy?»: Lula Dismisses Milei Amid Escalating Brazil-Argentina Tensions se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.