Now Reading: Brazil denies US envoy agrément, recalls Argentina ambassador
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Brazil denies US envoy agrément, recalls Argentina ambassador
Brazil has plunged into simultaneous diplomatic crises with the United States and Argentina two months before its October presidential election. President Lula's government has withheld formal approval (agrément) for Daniel Perez, Donald…
The Story in Brief
Brazil has plunged into simultaneous diplomatic crises with the United States and Argentina two months before its October presidential election. President Lula's government has withheld formal approval (agrément) for Daniel Perez, Donald Trump's pick for US ambassador, calling Washington's move a disrespectful breach of protocol. The US responded by revoking the visa of Brazil's ambassador. Separately, Brazil recalled its envoy from Buenos Aires after Argentine President Javier Milei called Lula 'a thief' and 'corrupt' on television.
Lula, 80, is campaigning for a fourth term on a platform of national sovereignty. He accused the US of planning 'to meddle in Brazil's election' and denied visas to two Trump administration officials. His main rival, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro (son of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro), has courted Trump and Milei as allies. The Hindu reports that the US State Department rejected suggestions of a 'ploy' to undermine the election. Polls show Lula with a slim but steady lead.
The Indian Opinion
India watches these far-off fireworks with a sense of déjà vu. A sitting government calls foreign interest 'interference' while the Opposition courts the same foreign powers. Lula's 'sovereignty' platform and the Bolsonaro-Milei-Trump axis are two sides of the same transactional coin. Both use foreign bogeymen to fire up their base. The concrete test: will Lula grant agrément for Daniel Perez after the October election, or will this breach become permanent?
Sources (2): economictimes.indiatimes.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
