Milei calls Lula 'thief' and 'prisoner' at Brazil rally, triggering worst diplomatic crisis in decades

The insults in São Paulo

Javier Milei travelled to São Paulo on Saturday 25 July to support the official nomination of Flávio Bolsonaro, the right-wing candidate for October's presidential election. During a speech at the Liberal Party convention, the Argentine president launched a series of personal attacks. Without naming Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva directly, he called the Brazilian president a "thief" and a "prisoner" and warned against the "risk Lula" in the upcoming vote. Milei also referred to Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes as "bald trash" and "bald scum" because de Moraes had prohibited him from visiting former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest for a coup attempt.

“Do not let them steal your future.”

Milei urged Brazil to free itself from "submission to the left" and said socialist ideology was being "eradicated" in Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador.

Brazil's response

On Sunday 26 July, Brazil's Foreign Ministry recalled its ambassador in Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, for consultations and summoned Argentine ambassador Daniel Raimondi to convey "repulsion" and demand explanations. The ministry described the episode as "infamante" and said there was no precedent for a foreign president attacking the head of state, democratic institutions and the judiciary on Brazilian soil.

“Não há precedentes de um presidente estrangeiro que, em território nacional, enfeixe agressões e ofensas ao chefe de Estado, às instituições democráticas, inclusive ao Poder Judiciário, e ao povo brasileiro.”

Supreme Court president Luiz Edson Fachin also expressed regret over the "disrespectful references" to a magistrate of the country's highest court. Lula, speaking at an event with trade unionists, said Brazil would not tolerate interference and would continue governing without outside meddling.

“No Brasil, não aceitamos que ninguém meta o nariz onde não foi chamado.”

Milei escalates

Hours after Brazil's diplomatic measures, Milei escalated the confrontation on Radio Mitre. Without presenting evidence, he accused the Brazilian government of financing 25 percent of an "anti-Argentine campaign" and claimed that "progressive heads" from Mexico and the US Democratic Party were also involved. He said supporters of Lula had actively worked against him during Argentina's 2023 presidential campaign and dismissed talk of interference as hypocritical.

“¿Quién puso más plata en esta campaña antiargentina? El gobierno de Brasil. El 25% de los recursos salió del gobierno de Brasil.”

Argentine media, including La Nación and Clarín, reported that Milei's government will not offer an apology. La Nación called it the most severe diplomatic crisis between the two countries in half a century.

Bilateral consequences

Ambassador Bitelli travelled to Brasília early on Monday 27 July for a meeting with Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, after which the next steps in the relationship would be defined. A Foreign Ministry source told RFI that the aim was to make Brazilian displeasure clear and that there was no deadline for Bitelli's return to Buenos Aires. Should the crisis deepen, the Brazilian government could withdraw the ambassador permanently, declare the Argentine envoy persona non grata, or in the most extreme scenario break diplomatic relations, though officials stress that neither side wants that outcome. The row unfolds between two neighbours bound by deep economic ties: Brazil is Argentina's main trading partner, and the two countries share one of the largest bilateral trade flows in South America.