Overview
- Brazil’s foreign ministry summoned Argentina’s ambassador, Julio Bitelli, to Brasília to protest President Javier Milei’s speech at a Partido Liberal event in São Paulo.
- In the speech Milei attacked Brazil’s leadership and judiciary, called President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a 'convict,' and publicly endorsed PL candidate Flavio Bolsonaro.
- Brazilian officials strongly pushed back, with Workers’ Party leader Edinho Silva calling the remarks unacceptable from a foreign head of state and Supreme Court President Luiz Edson Fachin affirming judicial independence.
- Some outlets reported that Brazil recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires but that claim is disputed in other coverage and has not been consistently confirmed.
- Milei also alleged, without presenting evidence, that Brazil, Mexico and US Democrats funded a campaign against Argentina’s World Cup team, a charge that has increased concerns about misinformation and cross-border political escalation.