MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[Peña says the Milei-Lula crisis has not affected how Mercosur functions]]> Peña said Lula and Milei now hold “irreconcilable differences,” though he argued both understand that the relationship between their countries is greater than the relationship between them. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña said on Friday that the differences between his Argentine and Brazilian counterparts, Javier Milei and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have had no consequences for Mercosur, despite the diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

]]> Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:20:00 GMT <![CDATA[The main land crossing between Argentina and Chile passes its winter closure record]]> The corridor was closed as a precaution on July 14 in anticipation of the forecasts The Cristo Redentor international crossing, which links the Argentine province of Mendoza with Chile's Valparaíso Region through the Andes, has now been closed for close to a month because of a snow and wind storm, surpassing the winter closure record set in 2023. Authorities on both sides estimate it could reopen next week, depending on weather conditions.

]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:55:00 GMT <![CDATA[Brazil ties its ambassador's return to an end to Milei's insults]]> Lula called the same day, in an interview with the Meteoro Brasil outlet, for setting aside ideological differences to strengthen Mercosur Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said on Wednesday that the downgrading of diplomatic relations with Argentina to chargé d'affaires level will remain in place until Argentine President Javier Milei stops what he called repeated insults and attacks against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

]]> Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:55:00 GMT <![CDATA[Milei on Lula: released over a procedural flaw, not for being innocent]]> Lula is a “thief and corrupt,” Milei said; he was “convicted and imprisoned, and was released over an administrative flaw rather than for being innocent.” Argentine President Javier Milei repeated his accusations against Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday, arguing that the corruption convictions once against him were annulled on formal grounds, in remarks that came just as Brazil's ambassador to Buenos Aires was preparing to return after being recalled for consultations.

]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:08:00 GMT <![CDATA[Brazil confirms its ambassador will return to Buenos Aires but sets no date]]> The crisis erupted when Argentine President Javier Milei spoke at the Liberal Party's national convention in São Paulo, where he backed Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential candidacy The Brazilian government confirmed that its ambassador to Argentina, Julio Glinternick Bitelli, will return to Buenos Aires after being recalled for consultations, without specifying when, in the first sign of de-escalation in the most serious diplomatic crisis between the two countries in decades.

]]> Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:26:00 GMT <![CDATA[Lula says Paraguay chose to invade Brazil; Paraguayan Congress accuses him of distorting history]]> Lula said Brazil likes peace but cannot forget that Paraguay one day decided to invade Brazil, adding that it later did the same to Argentina and Uruguay Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva invoked the War of the Triple Alliance (1864-1870) to defend increased defense spending, in remarks that drew formal rejection this week from both chambers of Paraguay's Congress.

]]> Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:40:00 GMT <![CDATA[“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?”

]]> Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:55:00 GMT <![CDATA[Mercosur's two largest partners in their worst diplomatic crisis as Brazil recalls its envoy]]> Milei defended his government's alignment with the United States and Israel and again criticized Brazil's judiciary for barring him from visiting Jair Bolsonaro Brazil on Sunday recalled its ambassador in Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, for consultations and summoned Argentina's ambassador in Brasília, Daniel Raimondi, to provide explanations at the Foreign Ministry, in the sharpest diplomatic response between the two countries in years. The measures, taken by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, follow the speech Argentine President Javier Milei delivered on Saturday in São Paulo at the convention that formalized Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential candidacy.

]]> Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:14:00 GMT <![CDATA[Lula aide insults Milei over plan to campaign for Bolsonaro's son in Brazil]]> “What does this imbecile think he has to teach the Brazilian people?” wrote Guilherme Boulos, chief minister of the Secretariat General of the Presidency and a figure close to Lula A senior Brazilian government official called Argentine President Javier Milei an "imbecile" after he announced he will travel to Brazil on July 25 to take part in the launch of the presidential candidacy of Flávio Bolsonaro, the main opposition figure to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:06:00 GMT <![CDATA[Argentina sends fresh rescue brigades to Venezuela as most foreign teams begin to withdraw]]> The Argentine contingent's departure comes as most foreign teams begin to leave Venezuela A new contingent of Argentine rescue workers left for Venezuela on Sunday to relieve the search-and-rescue teams deployed after the June 24 twin earthquake, which according to the official toll has left 2,954 dead and more than 16,500 injured. The dispatch coincides with the start of the withdrawal of most international missions, at the point when operations are shifting away from rescuing survivors toward the recovery phase.

]]> Sun, 05 Jul 2026 20:51:00 GMT