Spain and Argentina on the verge of diplomatic rupture?

Since Sunday, words have been flying between the two leaders, Pedro Sanchez and Javier Milei, after controversial remarks from the Argentine president. Madrid does not rule out severing diplomatic relations with Buenos Aires in the absence of an apology.

Wherever he goes, Argentine President Javier Milei speaks and acts without filter, disregarding the basic rules of diplomacy. Sunday May 19, in Spain, in Madrid, he is invited to the convention that Vox, the far-right party, is organizing before the European elections.

In front of an established audience, who gave him a standing ovation, Javier Milei, more belligerent than ever, trashes the leftists, exalts capitalism and ironically – without mentioning her – about the wife of the Spanish socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Begoña, targeted by an investigation for “Bribery” And “corruption“.

From there, everything goes wrong. Pedro Sanchez judges his counterpart “not up to par“ties of brotherhood” between the two countries.”I am aware that he did not speak on behalf of the Argentine people“, said the head of the Spanish government. But “between leaders, (if) we are free to appreciate each other more or less, respect is essential“He appreciates it even less because Javier Milei didn’t even stop by to greet him before going to make out with the far right.

Madrid recalls its ambassador to Buenos Aires and summons the Argentine ambassador to ring the bells for him. “Through his behavior, Mr. Milei has led relations between Spain and Argentina to the most serious moment in our recent history. exclaims the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares. “It is unacceptable that a current president, visiting Spain, insults Spain and its head of government. For this reason, Spain demands a public apology from Mr. Milei“.

This former Spanish ambassador to France does not exclude the severance of diplomatic relations: “We obviously don’t want to take these steps, but if there is no public apology, we will“.

This apology is not coming any time soon. Monday evening, in an interview with the Argentine channel TNT, Javier Milei believes that he said nothing wrong and that Pedro Sanchez “overreacted“. Recalling in passing that the head of the Spanish government had supported his opponent in the presidential race, not taking the trouble to call him after his victory.

A little earlier today, the spokesperson for the Argentine presidency blew hot and cold by explaining during a press conference that it was above all a dispute.staff“which has nothing diplomatic about it, because Javier Milei did not target anyone by name. Even if he”told the truth, as he did in any country, on any stage and in front of any audience“.

Incidentally, Manuel Adorni also reminds that it would rather be up to the Spanish government to apologize. A few weeks ago, in fact, the Minister of Transport, Oscar Puente, suggested that Milei was “sub substances“, when the number three in the government accused him on Friday of sowing “hate“.

Daily life El Observador explains that this whole story reminds him of a very popular card game in Argentina, “trick“, which works on the bluff: the players must pretend to argue and lie to each other in a very theatrical manner. Now with this scandal, Milei maintains his reputation, Sanchez dons the costume of Spanish nationalism and poses as a unifier in the face of far right which, for its part, is gaining visibility.

But now that everyone has had a good time, it’s time to put away the deck of cards. No one has any interest in the rupture, particularly on an economic level. Let’s not forget that Spain is the second largest investor in Argentina after the United States, with an annual amount of almost 15 billion euros according to the Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade.

The two leaders will also have the opportunity to officially reconcile at the end of June. After the G7 in Italy, Javier Milei is indeed expected again in Spain.