MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
“Who is that guy?”: Lula's response to Milei's remarks in São Paulo
The remarks led to the sharpest diplomatic response between the two countries in years Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed for the first time the remarks made against him by Argentine President Javier Milei, with a brief and ironic response that avoided escalating the controversy. Asked by reporters while preparing to receive South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, he replied: “Who is that guy?”
The reaction contrasts with that of the rest of the Brazilian government, which took a firmer stance. Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira described the Argentine president's remarks as “serious and unacceptable” and said they “constituted interference in internal affairs, in national affairs.” Speaking to TV Globo, he nonetheless defended the diplomatic route: “We must work to achieve understanding between nations, and diplomacy is based on that, on dialogue,” he said.
Finance Minister Dario Durigan questioned the Argentine leader's economic argument and compared the two countries' situations. In a radio interview, he said Milei had spoken about Brazil's situation despite Argentina posting a higher country risk, a larger public debt, and higher inflation. “One cannot fall for the narrative of those who claim the situation will become apocalyptic,” he said.
The episode began on Saturday, when Milei took part in São Paulo in the event formalizing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential candidacy for the October 4 elections. In a speech of about 25 minutes, the Argentine president avoided naming Lula and referred to him with terms such as “thief” and “convict,” while also using crude language about the region's left-wing governments. He argued that Brazil could face an adverse economic scenario if it does not change its political course.
The remarks led to the sharpest diplomatic response between the two countries in years. On Sunday, the Brazilian government recalled its ambassador in Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, whose return has no set date, and summoned Argentina's ambassador in Brasília, Daniel Raimondi, for explanations at Itamaraty. The president of the Supreme Federal Court, Luiz Edson Fachin, also issued an institutional note after Milei disparaged one of the court's justices.
In Argentina, a group of lawmakers filed a motion of censure over the remarks in the Chamber of Deputies. Argentina's foreign ministry had not issued an official response to the Brazilian statements as of this writing. Brazil and Argentina are Mercosur's two largest members and each other's main trading partners.
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Read all comments“.....a brief and ironic response that avoided escalating the controversy”.......
Jul 28th, 2026 - 04:14 pm 0IMO, no controversy.......is nine-fingers an ex-convict, condemned for corruption and stealing, or not ?
Nine-fingers tried to brush off Milei's remarks as if they were nothing, but we all know he was furious... he doesn't get on too well with the truth....one thing is to downplay the incident in front of reporters at an official reception (for the South Korean president), another is to rant and rave, as he did during one of his almost daily talks, to a captive audience of his ministers and fanatic followers.
“Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira described the Argentine president's remarks as “serious and unacceptable” and said they “constituted interference in internal affairs, in national affairs.”
”constituted interference in internal affairs” ?? Seriously ??
What about nine-finger's attempt to send USD 1 billion to Argentina, through the CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), in JUly 2023, ostensibly as a loan to help Argentina handle severe reserve shortages. ...which was in fact an attempt to help fund Sergio Massa's presidential campaign against Milei ? he only didn't succeed because the opposition - both here and in Argentina - managed to block it......but of course, that had nothing to do with interference in another country's election....LOL
CHARTER OF THE ORGANISATION OF AMERICAN STATES
Aug 01st, 2026 - 11:58 am 0Part One Chapter II PRINCIPLES
Article 13
The political existence of the State is independent of recognition by other States. Even before being
recognized, the State has the right to defend its integrity and independence, to provide for its preservation and prosperity, and consequently to organize itself as it sees fit, to legislate concerning its interests, to administer its services, and to determine the jurisdiction and competence of its courts. The exercise of these rights is limited only by the exercise of the rights of other States in accordance with international law.
Article 19
No State or group of States has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatever, in the internal or external affairs of any other State. The foregoing principle prohibits not only armed force but also any other form of interference or attempted threat against the personality of the State or against its political, economic, and cultural elements.
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