Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Argentina and summoned Argentina's envoy in Brasília after Argentine President Javier Milei made derogatory remarks about Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a senior Supreme Court justice during a political event in São Paulo.

In a statement issued Sunday, Brazil's Foreign Ministry condemned Milei's comments, describing them as an unprecedented affront to Brazil's leadership and democratic institutions.

"There is no precedent for a foreign president, on national territory, to hurl insults and offenses at the head of state, democratic institutions, including the judiciary, and the Brazilian people," the ministry said.

Diplomatic sources also confirmed that Argentina's ambassador to Brazil had been summoned to explain the remarks, signaling a sharp deterioration in relations between the two South American neighbors.

The diplomatic dispute erupted after Milei traveled to São Paulo on Saturday to participate in a political event hosted by Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The gathering brought together conservative and right-wing political figures ahead of Brazil's next presidential election, in which Bolsonaro's political camp hopes to challenge Lula's Workers' Party.

During his speech, Milei referred to Brazil's leftist president as a "convict," a "delinquent," and a "thief," without mentioning Lula by name. The Argentine leader also appeared to target Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, describing him as "bald trash" without explicitly identifying him.

The comments drew immediate condemnation from Brazilian officials.

Supreme Federal Court President Edson Fachin criticized Milei's remarks, calling them a "disrespectful reference to a magistrate of the highest court in the country, made on Brazilian soil."

The incident marks the latest escalation in the strained relationship between Lula and Milei, who have frequently clashed over ideology and regional politics since the Argentine president took office. Milei has openly aligned himself with former President Jair Bolsonaro and has repeatedly criticized left-wing governments across Latin America, while Lula has accused Milei of undermining democratic values and regional cooperation.

Despite political disagreements, Brazil remains Argentina's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth tens of billions of dollars annually. Analysts warn that prolonged diplomatic tensions between the region's two largest economies could complicate cooperation within the Mercosur trade bloc and on broader South American economic and political initiatives.

So far, Argentina's government has not issued an official response to Brazil's decision to recall its ambassador or summon the Argentine envoy. The latest dispute adds to a series of diplomatic confrontations between the neighboring countries that have tested one of South America's most important bilateral relationships. (ILKHA)