Brazil downgrades diplomatic ties with Argentina after Milei insults President Lula

Brazil has downgraded diplomatic ties with Argentina to the chargé d'affaires level following Argentine President Javier Milei's repeated insults directed at Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. A Brazilian government source confirmed on Tuesday that Brazil's ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, will not return to Buenos Aires after Milei called Lula an "ex-convict," a "thief," and "corrupt" in an interview. This decision formalizes a significant decline in relations between the two major Latin American economies, whose leaders have not held a bilateral meeting since Milei took office. Bitelli had previously been recalled last month after Milei criticized Lula during a campaign event for an opposition candidate.