Argentina's President Javier Milei accused Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of seeking to "steal" the elections in Brazil, according to La Nación. The remark, reported on Monday, October 26, 2026, marks another public escalation between the two leaders.
The accusation follows Lula's criticism of Argentina during a presidential debate in Brazil. According to TN, Milei answered those comments by calling Lula a "thief and a liar."
The dispute has drawn attention beyond the two countries. Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin said the tensions between Lula and Milei are not affecting Mercosur, according to Infobae and Ambito. Lubetkin also ruled out acting as a mediator between the pair, the outlets reported.
The exchange adds to a running public quarrel between the neighboring governments, now playing out during Brazil's election period. Milei's language, as reported by La Nación, is among his sharpest yet directed at Lula.
What to watch next: whether Lula's government responds directly to the accusation, and whether other Mercosur members follow Uruguay in publicly downplaying the impact on the bloc.
