Argentine President Javier Milei Renews Attacks on Brazil's Lula da Silva

Argentine President Javier Milei renewed his criticisms of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during an interview with LN+ on Sunday, calling him a thief and a corrupt person. Milei asserted that Lula is not innocent and claimed that his previous convictions under Operation Lava Jato were overturned due to procedural failures rather than a lack of guilt. When asked if his language was aggressive, Milei responded that calling a thief a thief is less aggressive than the act of stealing itself. He further characterized his comments as spontaneous expressions of his defense of the ideas of liberty.

The remarks have intensified a diplomatic crisis between the two nations. The Brazilian government described the situation as unprecedented. In response, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Argentine ambassador in Brasília and called the Brazilian ambassador in Buenos Aires for consultations. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira stated that while the situation is grave, the government has not yet pursued more severe measures such as the total withdrawal of diplomatic representation.

President Lula initially responded to Milei with irony, asking who the man was. He later adopted a firmer tone, calling Milei's participation in a recent political event in São Paulo a payasada, or a clown show, and stating that he would not accept external interference in Brazil's political process.

During the same interview, Milei expanded his criticisms to other regional and international leaders. He accused Lula of contaminating the region with socialist ideas and claimed that a campaign against Argentina was funded by Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and the Democratic Party of the United States. Milei also advocated for charging foreigners for public health and education services in Argentina to prevent them from using national resources and leaving.