Bolsonaro’s exit via Argentina further strains relations between Milei and Lula

Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro made an unexpected trip through Argentina after leaving Brazil following his election defeat. Despite a court order barring his departure, Bolsonaro and his family crossed into Argentina via the Tancredo Neves international bridge in Misiones province. They then boarded a private plane operated by Argentine company Baires Fly, which took them to Miami.

The National Migration Directorate in Argentina confirmed that Bolsonaro entered the country legally despite having no legal right to do so.

The move by Bolsonaro has exacerbated tensions between the governments of Argentine President Javier Milei and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires has refused to extend congratulations to Lula on his re-election. Bolsonaro, who had previously supported Milei during the campaign, praised his "courage, sense of justice and legality" in a letter from Miami. However, the bilateral relations between the two countries are at a low point.

Bolsonaro's visit comes amid another Argentine government decision that may further complicate relations. The ruling party amended a sovereignty defense bill to reduce sanctions on companies involved in hydrocarbon exploitation in the Falkland Islands, a move that has raised objections from the United States. This decision, coming shortly after Bolsonaro's arrival in Argentina, adds another layer of strain to the already fragile relationship between the two nations.