Argentina’s Foreign Ministry has denied that Brazil formally requested an explanation regarding former President Jair Bolsonaro’s transit through Argentine territory en route to the United States.
The denial follows a statement from a Brazilian diplomatic source, who told AFP on Friday that Brasília had summoned Argentina’s diplomatic representative on Thursday to “provide explanations” about Bolsonaro’s journey. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, characterized the meeting as a “routine procedure.”
According to Argentine authorities, Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday after crossing into Argentina with his family and boarding a private aircraft bound for Ecuador. The head of the airline operating the flight confirmed to AFP that the charter was paid for by an intermediary using a U.S. bank account.
Diplomatic relations between the two South American powers have been frayed since July, when Brazil recalled its ambassador and downgraded ties after Argentine President Javier Milei repeatedly insulted Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, labeling him “a thief” and “corrupt.”
Bolsonaro lost October’s presidential runoff to incumbent Lula da Silva, despite leading the first round of voting. The former president, who received tacit backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump, faces investigations in Brazil for alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion.
He was ordered to surrender his passport and is expected to forfeit his parliamentary immunity following his electoral defeat. Despite the loss, Bolsonaro insisted on Wednesday that he remains Brazil’s legitimate president after departing for Florida in what he described as self-imposed exile.
