Spain recalls Argentina ambassador in Milei insult row
Spain has “definitively” recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires following comments made by Argentina’s President Javier Milei in Madrid.
President Milei called the decision “absurd.”
At a far-right rally on Sunday, Milei described the wife of Spain’s left-wing Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, as “corrupt,” without directly naming her.
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Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares summoned Argentina’s ambassador, Roberto Bosch, the next day to demand a public apology from President Milei, but no action was taken.
Albares described the incident as unique in diplomatic history. “There is no precedent for a head of state who goes to another country’s capital to insult its institutions and flagrantly interfere in its internal affairs,” he said.
Spain initially withdrew its envoy, María Jesús Alonso, for consultations over the weekend. However, on Tuesday, the foreign minister announced that the ambassador would now remain in Madrid indefinitely, leaving Argentina without a Spanish envoy.
Milei had been invited to the Europa Viva 24 conference by the Spanish far-right party Vox, along with other political leaders, ahead of European Parliament elections in three weeks.
While other far-right leaders focused on migration and strong borders, President Milei targeted socialism, Spain’s Socialist prime minister, and his wife.