Argentina Regrets Brazil's Downgrade of Diplomatic Relations

Argentina on Tuesday expressed regret over Brazil’s decision to downgrade bilateral diplomatic relations to the chargé d’affaires level amid escalating tensions between the two countries. The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship said in a statement that the Argentine ambassador to Brazil had been summoned by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who conveyed the decision and requested the ambassador return to Argentina. “Argentina notes the unilateral decision taken by the Government of Brazil and regrets its decision to continue isolating itself from other countries in the region merely for ideological reasons,” the ministry said. The ministry stated that in recent years, Argentina has chosen not to turn political differences between the leaders of the two countries into diplomatic incidents. Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the country would maintain its embassy in Buenos Aires under the leadership of a chargé d’affaires, as Argentine President Javier Milei continues to attack Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The decision means Brazilian Ambassador to Argentina Julio Bitelli will not return to Buenos Aires for the time being after being recalled for consultations last week. The move came after Milei once again criticised Lula in an interview with the newspaper La Nacion. The latest development deepens a diplomatic crisis that began in late July, when Milei attended a political event in São Paulo and criticised Lula, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court and several other Brazilian institutions.