Argentina, U.S. In Diplomatic Fight with Brasil Over Election Interference

Argentina, US in Diplomatic Fight With Brazil Over Election Interference BRAZIL Brazil Brazilian fears of interference in its upcoming presidential election are causing a severe diplomatic brouhaha on two continents, with the country recalling its ambassador to Argentina and accusing the US of attempting to manipulate the vote results in favor of the current president’s right-wing opponent. On Tuesday, Brazil recalled its ambassador and downgraded its diplomatic relations with Argentina following a fresh round of remarks by Argentine President Javier Milei criticizing his Brazilian counterpart, leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula. At a rally over the weekend in the Brazilian city of São Paulo to launch the campaign of Flávio Bolsonaro, son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro and Lula’s main opponent in Brazil's October presidential vote, the Argentine leader referred to Lula as a "thief." He also criticized Brazil's Supreme Court over its decision to sentence Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years for his role in a failed coup attempt after he lost the 2022 elections to Lula. Lula reacted to the comments by saying, "In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn't belong." Meanwhile, in a separate diplomatic dispute over the elections, the Trump administration on Tuesday revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador after Brazil denied visas to two US diplomats on the grounds that Washington was seeking to interfere in Brazil's elections. The US is also upset by what it sees as Brazil stalling on approving President Donald Trump’s nominee to become ambassador in Brasilia. Trump has had a fractious relationship with the Lula administration, which has opposed him on numerous policies, but also because of Trump’s close relationship with Jair Bolsonaro. Trump imposed sanctions on Brazilian officials and tariffs to punish the country for its prosecution of the former president and his allies. As a result, Lula, who was recently confirmed as his party's candidate in the upcoming presidential vote, has increasingly portrayed himself as a defender of Brazilian sovereignty against foreign interference.