Itamaraty dismisses Argentine ambassador in Brazil and downgrades relations with neighboring country

The measure, which also includes the stay in Brazil of Julio Bitelli, Brazilian ambassador to Argentina, is a response to President Javier Milei's attacks on Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in recent days. This state of affairs will be maintained as long as the ultraliberal's offenses last, say members of the government.

What changes in the diplomatic relationship between Brazil and Argentina?

According to the report, Raimondi was summoned to Itamaraty, where he received information that he could return home. This is not an expulsion of the ambassador. The measure is one step below this diplomatic action. In other words, he will not be considered persona non grata, nor will he be consulted in the relationship between the two countries from now on. Raimondi has no deadline for leaving Brazil.

The initial information that Bitelli, in Brasília since July 26, would not return to Buenos Aires was given by the Argentine newspaper Clarín and confirmed to the report. The government decided to keep only one chargé d'affaires while Milei's attacks persist.

This is the most serious crisis in decades with Argentina, one of Brazil's main trading partners and historical ally.

According to government officials, the Brazilian government's action in relation to the Argentine ambassador is similar to Washington's decision to revoke the visa of the Brazilian ambassador to the United States, Maria Luiza Viotti. She was not expelled and can remain in the country, although she can no longer carry out her duties normally.

How did Argentina react to Brazil's decision?

Hours after the measure was made public, the Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it "regrets [Brazil's] decision to continue isolating itself from the rest of the region for purely ideological reasons."

"We have never responded to a political difference with an institutional measure. This criterion is what Argentina supports today", stated the ministry.

How did the crisis between Brazil and Argentina begin?

The conflict with Argentina began just over a week ago, when Milei attacked Brazilian authorities during the launch of Flávio Bolsonaro's (PL) candidacy, in São Paulo.

In an impassioned speech, the Argentine president referred to Lula as a thief and a prisoner and called the minister of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), Alexandre de Moraes, "bald trash", who vetoed a visit by the ultraliberal to Jair Bolsonaro, under house arrest in Brasília.

The following day, Brazil reacted by calling Raimondi to provide clarification and summoning Bitelli back to Brasília. The crisis continued in the following days, with Minister Dario Durigan (Finance) calling Milei a "clown" and Minister Guilherme Boulos (General Secretariat) classifying the Argentine as a "pathetic caricature" and "Donald Trump's ass kisser".

Lula, in turn, chose to mock his counterpart. "Who is this guy?", he asked journalists last week, when asked about Milei's statement.

Milei attacked Lula again in a new interview

Members of the Argentine government had been trying to minimize the situation throughout the week.

"On our side, there is no chance of breaking relations. We are not taking this to the institutional level", said Argentine Chancellor, Pablo Quirno, on a radio station on Wednesday (29), when asked about the statements made by Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), who had classified the episode as regrettable the day before.

On Sunday (2), however, Milei renewed the attacks in an interview with LN+, broadcaster of the newspaper La Nación.

"What is aggressive is when someone steals. It is much less serious to call a thief a thief than the act of stealing itself", he stated when asked about the episode. "They talk about political interference in the region. If there is anyone who interferes politically in the region, it is Lula, completely contaminating it with the filthy ideas of socialism."

And he continued: "The worst thing is that they accuse me with lies, and I respond with truths. I didn't lie. When I respond with truths, does Lula feel attacked? He's a swindler and a thief. He's a convict. He got out through an administrative appeal. I went to Brazil and I didn't attack the Brazilians; I spoke in favor of the Brazilians. I spoke about Lula, the corrupt, the condemned, and about judge Alexandre de Moraes, who denied a visit to Bolsonaro."

Milei attacks Lula again and expands diplomatic crisis with Brazil

Argentine president called the PT member a “thief” and “corrupt” in a new interview. The Brazilian government summoned the Argentine ambassador and classified the episode as serious and unprecedented