Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said the move follows repeated personal attacks by Milei against Lula, including remarks made several times since Sunday in which the Argentine president referred to the Brazilian leader as “a thief.” Brazilian officials said Milei also used the same language during a July 25 political convention attended by Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Lula’s expected opponent in the upcoming election.

The decision marks an unprecedented diplomatic downgrade in modern relations between the neighboring countries.

Brazil Maintains Reduced Diplomatic Representation

Brazil recalled its ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, in July after earlier comments by Milei targeting Lula.

Since then, Brazil’s embassy in Buenos Aires has been led by a chargé d’affaires rather than a full ambassador.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Ambassador Bitelli will not return to Argentina while Milei continues making what Brazil considers offensive public statements against the Brazilian president.

Lula has not publicly responded to Milei’s latest remarks.

Political Dispute Expands Beyond Bilateral Relations

The diplomatic tensions extend beyond the relationship between the two presidents.

During the July political convention, Milei also criticized Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes after the judge rejected his request to visit former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro is serving a prison sentence under house arrest following his conviction over an attempted coup.

Relations between Brasília and Buenos Aires have remained strained since Milei took office in December 2023, reflecting broader ideological differences between the two governments.

Election Campaign Raises Foreign Influence Concerns

The dispute comes as Brazil’s presidential campaign gains momentum.

Lula was formally nominated Sunday as the presidential candidate of the governing Workers’ Party for the October election.

Party leaders used the convention to express concerns about potential foreign political influence in Brazil’s electoral process.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who will again serve as Lula’s running mate, defended Brazil’s electronic voting system while making an apparent reference to Milei and U.S. President Donald Trump.

He said the country’s voting system was so reliable that it “doesn’t accept any votes from Argentines and Americans.”

Diplomatic Strains Continue to Grow

The latest dispute also coincides with broader tensions between Brazil and the United States.

Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. State Department revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington after Brazil denied visas last month to two American diplomats seeking to visit the country before the election.

The developments underscore how political disagreements are increasingly shaping diplomatic relations across the region as Brazil approaches a closely watched presidential vote.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Lula Launches Reelection Campaign as Brazil Faces Debate Over Foreign Influence

The Daily Desk — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 02:23:48 +0000

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva officially launched his reelection campaign on Sunday, placing national sovereignty and economic policy at the center of his bid as his governing party warned of growing foreign political influence ahead of October’s presidential election.

Lula secured the endorsement of the governing Workers’ Party during its national convention, confirming what is expected to be his seventh presidential campaign and likely his final run for Brazil’s highest office.

Addressing party delegates, the 80-year-old president pledged to strengthen Brazil’s defense industry, protect the country’s strategic mineral resources and reinforce national sovereignty.

“No Chinese, no American, no French will touch” Brazil’s rare mineral reserves without respecting the country’s sovereignty, Lula said, adding that his government must be “much more daring” in pursuing national development.

Workers’ Party Raises Foreign Influence Concerns

Party leaders used the convention to warn about what they described as growing attempts by foreign political figures to influence Brazil’s election.

Workers’ Party chairman Edinho Silva said the outcome of the vote would have consequences beyond Brazil, arguing that it could shape the political direction of Latin America.

Lula enters the campaign with stronger polling numbers than he had six months ago.

His administration has promoted tax relief for lower-income Brazilians and introduced a debt forgiveness program that party officials say has gained broad public support.

Campaign Begins Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Lula is expected to face Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

According to the Associated Press, Flávio Bolsonaro has received public support from members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, Argentine President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime ally of Trump, is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest after being convicted over an attempted coup.

The Workers’ Party has also warned about potential online influence campaigns, including automated social media activity that it says could affect voters or undermine confidence in Brazil’s electronic voting system.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who will again serve as Lula’s running mate, defended the country’s voting system during the party convention.

“The electronic voting system is so good that it doesn’t take votes from Argentines and Americans,” Alckmin said, referring to Milei and Trump.

Foreign Relations Become Campaign Issue

Brazil’s election campaign is unfolding alongside growing diplomatic tensions with several countries.

The Trump administration recently imposed new tariffs on Brazilian exports and redesignated two Brazilian criminal organizations as terrorist groups.

Legal experts cited by the Associated Press said the measures could affect companies operating in Brazil and potentially create new avenues for foreign involvement.

Both actions followed a visit by Flávio Bolsonaro to the White House and the U.S. Department of State.

Relations with neighboring Argentina have also become strained.

On July 25, President Javier Milei attended the Liberal Party convention in São Paulo, where he criticized Lula and the Brazilian Supreme Court justice who oversaw Jair Bolsonaro’s trial, triggering a diplomatic dispute.

Netanyahu also released a video expressing support for Lula’s political opponent.

Meanwhile, Lula has continued to emphasize Brazil’s independent foreign policy. He recently held an extended telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping as Brazil seeks to strengthen trade and economic ties with one of its largest trading partners.

Supporters of the president say another Lula administration could help advance new trade agreements within the Mercosur bloc, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Election Security Remains a Key Issue

Brazil’s electronic voting system has again emerged as a central campaign issue.

Like his father, Flávio Bolsonaro has repeated unfounded claims questioning the reliability of electronic voting. Brazilian electoral authorities have consistently rejected those allegations.

The dispute has also affected Brazil’s diplomatic relations.

In July, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry denied visas to two U.S. Department of State officials amid concerns they intended to promote similar claims about the country’s electoral system. The U.S. State Department denied the allegation.