Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visits the Andarai Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Bruna Prado)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-08-05T01:07:11Z<\/p>\n
SAO PAULO (AP) \u2014 Brazil\u2019s<\/a><\/span> government on Tuesday announced it is reducing its diplomatic presence in Argentina after renewed attacks by Argentine President Javier Milei on his counterpart Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva. <\/p>\n It is the first time in recent history that such a move takes place between the two neighbors.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Brazil\u2019s foreign office told The Associated Press that Milei has called Lula \u201ca thief\u201d three times since Sunday. He used similar wording on July 25 at the party convention of Sen. Fl\u00e1vio Bolsonaro,<\/a><\/span> son of the former president who will be Lula\u2019s rival in October\u2019s election. <\/p>\n Milei also accused Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes of being \u201ctrash\u201d during the convention. De Moraes denied a request by the Argentine president to visit former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n The Brazilian government recalled<\/a><\/span> its ambassador to Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, in July, a day after Milei\u2019s first remarks against Lula. Since then, Brazil\u2019s interests in Argentina are represented by a charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires, a lower-ranked position.<\/p>\n Bitelli will not return to Argentina as long as Milei continues to make aggressive comments toward Lula, the spokesperson said. <\/p>\n The Brazilian president has not commented on Milei\u2019s remarks. The two have had a frosty relationship since the Argentine leader took office in December 2023.<\/p>\n Milei is a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration is at odds with Lula. Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department revoked the visa of Brazil\u2019s ambassador to Washington in retaliation for Brazil\u2019s denial of visas<\/a><\/span> last month for two American diplomats who sought to visit ahead of upcoming elections<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n