Brazil escalated a sweeping diplomatic crisis on Tuesday, accusing the administrations of U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei of attempting to interfere in the country’s October presidential elections.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said recent diplomatic actions and political statements by Washington and Buenos Aires amounted to foreign intervention in Brazil’s democratic process. The ministry described the U.S. decision to revoke the diplomatic visa of Brazil’s ambassador as “a deliberate escalation of hostile measures” and rejected Washington’s allegations as false.
The Trump administration revoked the visa in retaliation for Brazil’s delay in granting formal diplomatic approval to Washington’s nominee for ambassador. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously placed Brazil on a list of countries he said were unfriendly to the United States, and wrote on social media that “President Lula and his government did not negotiate in good faith.”
Brazil also recalled its ambassador to Argentina and downgraded diplomatic relations after Milei attacked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at a political rally in Sao Paulo supporting Flavio Bolsonaro’s presidential campaign. Milei called Lula a “thief,” “corrupt,” “convicted criminal” and “socialist trash.”
The crisis deepened when Brazilian officials noted that the U.S. had denied visas to several American diplomats who had been expected to question the credibility of Brazil’s electoral system. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said Milei was interfering in Brazil’s domestic politics “in a rude manner.”
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry responded by criticizing Brazil’s decision to downgrade ties, calling it an attempt to “isolate itself from the rest of the region for purely ideological reasons.” Political analyst Lucas Romero warned that the deterioration threatens the relationship between South America’s two largest economies and biggest trading partners.
Brazil’s October election pits 80-year-old Lula against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in what polls show is the tightest race in decades. The diplomatic fallout adds a volatile new dimension to the contest.
Sources: UPI, Buenos Aires Times, Plataforma Media
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