Argentine President Javier Milei made a cold gesture by refusing to applaud when Paraguayan President Santiago Peña highlighted the leadership of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in regional integration. During the signing ceremony of the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, as Peña praised the Brazilian leader—who was absent from the ceremony—Milei remained rigid and silent. The presidents of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, and Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, applauded the mention of the Brazilian leader. The incident occurred at the most symbolic moment of the day, underscoring that commercial harmony with Europe has failed to mitigate ideological frictions within the regional bloc. As host and pro tempore president of Mercosur, Peña sought to emphasize the diplomatic process that took decades of negotiations. During his speech, he paid homage to Lula da Silva, calling him one of the 'fundamental drivers' to move past the continent's history of conflicts. These words contrast with Milei's rhetoric, who has repeatedly referred to the Brazilian leader as a 'socialist' and 'corrupt.' Milei's gesture is not an isolated incident; it comes just 48 hours after a significant operational breakdown: Brazil officially stopped representing Argentina's interests in Venezuela. The Argentine embassy in Caracas was left without a protecting nation after Lula's diplomacy withdrew custody of the building and asylum-seeking opposition figures, in retaliation for constant criticism from the Casa Rosada. In response to this void, the Argentine government initiated talks for Giorgia Meloni's administration to take over the protection of the diplomatic mission in Venezuela. Tension between Argentina and Brazil continues to escalate.
