Milei will not congratulate Lula on re-election, spokesman says

Argentina's government has confirmed it will not comment on the outcome of Brazil's presidential runoff. Presidential spokesperson Adrián Ravier stated at a press conference that there will be no statement regarding the results. This decision makes President Javier Milei one of only a few regional leaders, alongside El Salvador's Nayib Bukele, who has not officially recognized Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's victory.

The diplomatic relations between Argentina and Brazil have been at the chargé d'affaires level since August 4, 2026, with no ambassadors in each other's capitals since taking office in December 2023. Other right-wing leaders in the region, such as Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz, Chile's José Antonio Kast, Colombia's Abelardo de la Espriella, and Peru's Keiko Fujimori, have all congratulated Lula on his victory despite their ideological differences.

Argentina's stance on not recognizing Lula's victory mirrors the response from Lula when Milei was elected in November 2023. When Milei was elected, Lula did not issue a congratulatory message. Instead, he expressed his respect for Argentina's democratic process and wished the new government good luck and success.