BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Argentina on Tuesday expressed regret over Brazil's decision to downgrade bilateral diplomatic ties to the level of charges d'affaires amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Argentina's foreign ministry said in a statement that its ambassador to Brazil had been summoned by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who informed him of the decision and requested his return to Argentina.
"Argentina takes note of the unilateral decision adopted by the Government of Brazil and regrets its decision to continue isolating itself from the rest of the region for purely ideological reasons," the ministry said.
It said Argentina had chosen in recent years not to turn political disagreements between leaders of the two countries into diplomatic incidents.
Brazil's foreign ministry said Tuesday that Brazil would keep its embassy in Buenos Aires under a charge d'affaires, as Argentine President Javier Milei continues making attacks against Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The move means Brazil's ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, will not return to Buenos Aires for now after being called back for consultations last week.
The decision followed renewed offensive remarks by Milei against Lula in an interview with Argentine newspaper La Nacion.
The latest step deepens a diplomatic crisis that began in late July, when Milei attended a political event in Sao Paulo and criticized Lula, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court and other Brazilian institutions.
Brazil has not announced a break in relations with Argentina or the closure of its embassy, but the downgrade marks one of its strongest diplomatic responses to Milei's government so far. ■
