Colombia announced on Wednesday (27) the expulsion of Argentine diplomats in Bogotá, after the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, referred to Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, as a “terrorist murderer”.
“This is not the first time that Mr. Milei has offended the Colombian president, affecting the historic relations of brotherhood between Colombia and Argentina,” said the Colombian Foreign Ministry in a statement.
“The Argentine president’s expressions deteriorated our nation’s confidence, in addition to offending the dignity of President Petro, who was democratically elected”, states the text.
It is not yet clear which diplomats will be removed. The Colombian note says that “the scope of this decision will be communicated to the Argentine embassy through institutional diplomatic channels”.
On the social network X (formerly Twitter) Milei commented on the Colombian decision stating that he has been attacked by Petro. “It’s okay for other leaders to attack me and it’s wrong for me to defend myself,” wrote Milei.
The statement by the President of Argentina was made during an interview with the TV network CNN Spanish which should air next Sunday (31). “You cannot expect much from someone who was a terrorist murderer”, said the president, one of the representatives of the global extreme right.
It was not the first time that Milei offended the president of Colombia. In January, the Argentine had already classified Petro as a “murderous communist”, in an interview with Colombian TV. At the time, the country’s foreign ministry repudiated the statements, stating that “the government vehemently rejects this statement that attacks the president’s honor” and that Milei’s words “ignore and violate the deep friendship between the two countries”.
Editing: Vivian Virissimo
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br