Tuesday, July 28th 2026 - 10:55 UTC
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.
