The Argentine government authorized Brazilian naval forces to enter the country’s waters on Monday to take part in a joint military exercise beginning this week. The development comes amid one of the worst diplomatic crises between the two governments in recent history.
Last week, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided to remove its ambassador in Buenos Aires in response to insults from his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei. The libertarian economist had repeatedly attacked the Brazilian leader, calling him a “corrupt” and “thief” and later referring to him as a “convict.”
Despite the row, the Argentine government approved the entry of Brazilian Navy personnel and equipment into its territorial waters from August 10 to 24, under a decree published in the Official Gazette on Thursday.
The Fraterno XXXIX is a longstanding bilateral exercise involving the two countries’ armed forces. The operation’s main activities begin on August 13 at the Puerto Belgrano and Mar del Plata naval bases and in the South Atlantic.
The traditional join exercise takes place this year amid an escalating diplomatic confrontation between Milei and Lula.
