Milei’s “Thief” Comment Deepens Argentina‑Brazil Diplomatic Rift

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:05:21 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Argentine President Javier Milei accused Brazil’s Lula of being a “thief” and “convict” at a Sao Paulo rally, prompting Brazil to recall its ambassador to Buenos Aires.

During a launch of Flavio Bolsonaro’s campaign, Argentine President Javier Milei publicly called Brazil’s President Lula a “thief” and “convict.” The remarks were made alongside Bolsonaro at a rally in Sao Paulo, but Brazil’s diplomats said Milei had insulted both the country and its democracy. In response, Brazil recalled its ambassador from Buenos Aires while Lula vowed to continue leading “without interference.” The incident underscores the fraught political relationship and the volatile regional landscape, especially with Bolsonaro’s son walking from a coup plot to a presidential run.

The Argentine president, Javier Milei, struck a hostile blow at Brazil’s democratically elected leader during a political rally in Sao Paulo on Sunday.

Milei, who is launching the presidential campaign of right‑wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, described Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a “thief” and a “convict.” He did not use Lula’s name directly but made the scathing remarks while standing beside Bolsonaro.

Brazil’s diplomatic mission in Buenos Aires quickly threatened a formal response. The country recalled its ambassador, Julio Bitelli, who was expected to return home between Sunday and Monday, citing that the Argentine president had “insulted Brazil’s government, people and democracy.”

Lula himself rejected the claims, saying he will “continue to lead without anyone’s interference,” and asserted that Brazil will not accept anyone “sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Bolsonaro’s son, Flavio Bolsanaro – the former president’s child – is a central figure in the 2025 presidential race, after being sentenced last year to more than 27 years in jail on coup attempts. Milei’s barbs also extended to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who had denied him permission to visit the former president during house arrest.

Lula’s past legal troubles echo the larger corruption scandals that marred Brazil’s political history. The former president was sentenced in 2018 over a massive bribery case but was released after 18 months, and his convictions were later annulled by the Supreme Court in 2021. He narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in 2022, winning 50.9 % of the vote.

With the continent’s powerhouses in turmoil, the international community watches closely as the argument may further destabilize the region’s political equilibrium.