Diplomatic Rift Deepens As Brazil, Nicaragua Expel Ambassadors

On Thursday, diplomatic tensions between Brazil and Nicaragua escalated as both nations expelled each other’s ambassadors, signaling a significant breakdown in relations between the two left-leaning governments.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered the expulsion of Nicaragua’s ambassador, Patricia Castro Matus, from Brasília. This decision followed a similar move by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who had instructed Brazil’s envoy, Ambassador Breno de Souza da Costa, to leave Managua. The reciprocal expulsions highlight the widening rift between Brazil’s Lula and other Latin American leftist leaders, particularly over contentious issues such as Venezuela’s disputed presidential election.

Lula’s administration criticized the Venezuelan government for withholding the release of vote tallies, marking a clear divide among leftist leaders in the region. “In diplomacy, there is reciprocity,” said Rui Costa, Lula’s Chief of Staff, explaining that Brazil had no choice but to respond in kind to Nicaragua’s actions. He emphasized Brazil’s desire for peaceful relations but made it clear that harassment of its diplomats would not be tolerated.

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The diplomatic clash comes after Brazil’s ambassador sparked anger in Nicaragua by not attending the celebrations of the 45th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution last month. The absence led to threats of expulsion and, ultimately, the current diplomatic rupture. Nicaraguan Vice-President Rosario Murillo confirmed the expulsion and indicated that the Nicaraguan diplomat would soon return to a post in the country’s economy ministry.