Photo: Presidency of Colombia via Wikimedia Commons
The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro (photo), summoned this Friday, January 26, the Colombian Ambassador to Argentina, Camilo Romero, in another chapter of his feud with the Argentine President Javier Milei.
The call comes following an interview by Milei with an Argentine television channel in which he describes Petro as a “murderous communist who is fucking Colombia.”
In an official statement, the Colombian Foreign Ministry said that “the Colombian government vehemently rejects this statement that attacks the honor of the President.”
“President Milei’s words ignore and violate the deep bonds of friendship, understanding and cooperation,” he added.
Romero also spoke about the episode. He called Milei a “hypocrite.”
“Even though today we ask our government to approve its new ambassador to Colombia, it calls the president a murderer,” Romero said publication in the X, regarding the need for Colombia's consent for Milei to appoint a new ambassador to the country.
Romero also recalled that the Argentine also provoked Lula and Pope Francis, adding: “We can think differently, but the region and the historical brotherhood of our people must rise above all differences.”
What is the relationship between Presidents Petro and Milei?
Relations between the two leaders began in the worst possible way due to Petro, who has been presiding over Colombia since August 2022.
When Milei was elected Argentina's president in November, Petro did not congratulate him on the result.
On the contrary, he lamented the libertarian victory.
“The far right has won in Argentina; It is your company's decision. Sad for Latin America, and we will soon see that neoliberalism has no proposal for society“We cannot respond to humanity’s current problems,” Petro wrote at the time.
While the Colombian representation in Argentina is recalled to its country, the Argentine representation in Colombia is in a state of limbo.
Milei has not yet publicly announced who he plans to nominate for the Argentine embassy in Colombia.
If you are a career diplomat, you do not need to be approved by the Argentine Senate, as was the case with your candidate for Chile, Jorge Faurie.
Otherwise, the same procedure will be used as for the nominations from, among others, the USA, France and Brazil, none of which had been taken into account as of Friday.
In any case, Milei's name also needs the agrément, the diplomatic approval of the Colombian government, to choose a new ambassador or even keep the current one, Gustavo Alejandro Dzugala.
How long have Milei and Petro been at odds?
Milei has a history of clashes with Petro…
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