Brazil downgrades diplomatic relations with Argentina

Brazil has decided to downgrade its diplomatic relations with Argentina to the level of chargé d’affaires. The decision follows statements by Argentine President Javier Milei criticising the policies of Brazilian President Lula da Silva, according to a report by CNN Brasil on Tuesday. The Brazilian government has consequently decided not to send Ambassador Julio Bitelli back to Argentina. The decision was conveyed to Argentina’s Ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Raimondi, who received a note of protest in the wake of the Argentine president’s remarks, the report added. Previously, on 25 July, President Milei was a guest at a Liberal Party convention in São Paulo, Brazil. At the convention, Milei formally endorsed party politician and opposition leader Flavio Bolsonaro as a candidate for the Brazilian presidency. In his speech, Milei criticised socialism and the policies of President Lula da Silva. The Argentine president also directed harsh words at Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for denying Milei permission to visit Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio’s father and the former Brazilian president. Jair Bolsonaro was imprisoned after being found guilty of leading a military coup plot and a criminal organisation to overturn the results of the 2022 election, which he lost to Lula da Silva. In September 2025, Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison by Brazil’s Supreme Court.