Argentina and Colombia have agreed to end a heated diplomatic spat over last week's visceral attack on Colombia's leftist president by right-wing Argentine President Javier Millei.
BUENOS AIRES — Argentina and Colombia have agreed to end a heated diplomatic spat over right-wing Argentine President Javier Millay's visceral attack on Colombia's leftist president last week, with the country ordering the expulsion of an Argentine diplomat.
“We have taken concrete steps to overcome any differences and strengthen this relationship,” the foreign ministries of both Latin American countries said in a joint statement late Sunday.
Colombia said its ambassador from Buenos Aires would return to the country, and the Argentine government announced that its foreign minister would visit Bogotá. Colombia also took a step back from threatening to expel Argentine diplomats and said it would recognize Argentina's newly appointed ambassador.
Tensions between Argentina's Mr. Millei and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have been fraught with bitter arguments since the brash right-wing economist and former television personality burst onto the world stage last year. There have been sharp exchanges in the past, with Millais calling Petro a “murderous communist” and socialists “human excrement.” Peter retorted, “That's what Hitler said.''
The latest controversial war of words between the populist presidents comes after Milay, in an interview with CNN last week, referred to Petro's past as a member of a left-wing guerrilla group and branded him a “terrorist killer.” Began. Mr Petro responded on social media, accusing Mr Millay of isolating Argentina diplomatically and increasing poverty rates with liberal policies.
Millais and Petro come from opposite political backgrounds. Petro was elected president on a promise to create social programs to help Colombia's long-neglected poor, while Millay, a self-described anarcho-capitalist, was elected president as a means to curb triple-digit inflation. He promised to cut government spending by eliminating ministries and expensive programs. .
But both leaders quickly came to power, promising sweeping changes stemming from voter dissatisfaction with a system that has long failed to address deep poverty and inequality.
