Brazil Cuts Presence in Argentina      08/05 06:19

   

   SAO PAULO (AP) -- Brazil's government on Tuesday announced it is reducing 
its diplomatic presence in Argentina after renewed attacks by Argentine 
President Javier Milei on his counterpart Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.

   It is the first time in recent history that such a move takes place between 
the two neighbors.

   A spokesperson for Brazil's foreign office told The Associated Press that 
Milei has called Lula "a thief" three times since Sunday. He used similar 
wording on July 25 at the party convention of Sen. Flvio Bolsonaro, son of the 
former president who will be Lula's rival in October's election.

   Milei also accused Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes of being 
"trash" during the convention. De Moraes denied a request by the Argentine 
president to visit former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest 
serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt.

   The Brazilian government recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires, Julio 
Bitelli, in July, a day after Milei's first remarks against Lula. Since then, 
Brazil's interests in Argentina are represented by a charg d'affaires, a 
lower-ranked position.

   Bitelli will not return to Argentina as long as Milei continues to make 
aggressive comments toward Lula, the spokesperson said.

   The Brazilian president has not commented on Milei's remarks. The two have 
had a frosty relationship since the Argentine leader took office in December 
2023.

   Milei is a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration 
is at odds with Lula. Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department revoked the 
visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington in retaliation for Brazil's denial of 
visas last month for two American diplomats who sought to visit ahead of 
upcoming elections.

   Lula was officially declared candidate for reelection Sunday at his Workers' 
Party convention, where many voiced concerns of foreign interference in the 
country's vote.

   Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, a conservative who will once again be Lula's 
running mate, said the country's electronic voting system was so effective that 
"it doesn't accept any votes from Argentines and Americans," in a reference to 
Milei and Trump.