Buenos Aires.- The Argentine Foreign Minister, Pablo Quirno, downplayed the diplomatic tension with Brazil this Wednesday following the insults from President Javier Milei toward his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and stated that this episode should be understood as part of the political and ideological differences between both governments.
“We have to frame this latest episode within a series of other events that have been occurring between Brazil and Argentina due to political and ideological differences,” said Quirno in an interview with the Argentine radio station Radio Mitre.
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During his speech at the Liberal Party (PL) convention in Brazil in support of the presidential candidacy of Flávio Bolsonaro (son of the former president), the Argentine president called da Silva a “thief” last Saturday and reproached him for “spreading socialism” in Latin America.
Afterwards, the Argentine president accused the Brazilian government of having financed a campaign against Argentina on social media during the World Cup, with the support of Mexico and the United States Democratic Party.
The chancellor did not officially apologize for Milei’s statements and assured that the Argentine government does not contemplate a rupture of relations with Brazil. “There is no chance that the relationship will be broken on our side. We are not taking it to the institutional level,” he stated.
Regarding Milei’s participation in the party event in Brazil, Quirno said: “He evidently supports the Bolsonaro family” and pointed out that the differences between both countries respond to opposing political visions.
“They are very marked ideological differences,” he expressed.
In similar terms, the Argentine government spokesperson, Adrián Ravier, expressed himself this Tuesday, stating in a press conference: “We do not believe that this will impact the diplomatic side of the two countries, or at least from the Argentine side. It is not the intention that this affects trade relations between two brotherly peoples who trade.”
Regarding the Brazilian Government’s recall of its ambassador to Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, Foreign Minister Quirno indicated that his Government awaits his return to “continue developing the extensive agenda.”
