Argentina’s President Javier Milei has triggered a diplomatic dispute with Brazil following his recent visit, during which he made sharply critical remarks about the Brazilian government and judiciary. Speaking in São Paulo alongside Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Milei endorsed Bolsonaro’s campaign to challenge incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the upcoming October elections.

During the event, Milei referred to Lula, who has maintained a growing lead in the polls, as a “convict” and denounced the Brazilian administration as “thieving socialists.” He positioned Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, as the only viable candidate to prevent Lula from securing another term.

Milei also directed derogatory comments toward Brazil’s Supreme Court, singling out Justice Alexandre de Moraes without mentioning him by name, calling him “bald trash.” He accused Moraes of blocking his attempts to visit Jair Bolsonaro, whom Milei described as his “unjustly imprisoned friend.” Jair Bolsonaro was convicted in 2022 for allegedly plotting a coup.

Brazilian officials responded strongly to Milei’s remarks. A Brazilian diplomatic source characterized the statements as insults directed at multiple branches of government, the Brazilian populace, and the country’s democratic institutions. Edson Fachin, president of the Supreme Federal Court, criticized Milei’s comments as “disrespectful” toward one of the nation’s highest judicial authorities, particularly given that they were made on Brazilian soil.

In the wake of the incident, Brazil recalled its ambassador from Argentina for consultations, underscoring tensions between the two neighboring countries. The diplomatic relationship between Argentina and Brazil has been notably strained, with limited official engagement recently. During both of his visits to Brazil, Milei has not sought to meet with President Lula, who has likewise shown no indication of interest in hosting Milei.

Lula has yet to address Milei’s criticisms directly. However, in a recent opinion piece published in an international outlet, Lula defended Brazil’s sovereignty in economic matters, labeling U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods a “strategic mistake” and affirming that the country’s fate should be determined exclusively by Brazilians.