BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Spain said Tuesday it has withdrawn its ambassador from Argentina in response to comments by Argentine President Javier Milei, who accused the Spanish prime minister’s wife of corruption and described socialism as “cursed and carcinogenic.” ‘.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told reporters on Tuesday that Spain’s ambassador to Argentina “will certainly remain in Madrid.”
“Argentina will continue without an ambassador,” he said.
Milei responded angrily to the move, saying the withdrawal was “nonsense typical of an arrogant socialist.”
“Socialists are capable of anything,” he added.
The decision further escalates the diplomatic row between the socialist Spanish government and the right-wing Argentine government.
Tensions have been building for weeks. Spain’s socialist government had summoned its ambassador for consultations and demanded an apology from Milei after the libertarian leader criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his wife during a far-right rally in Madrid on Sunday.
On Monday, Milei only doubled down, saying he would “under no circumstances” apologize for his criticism.
