Southern Cone in August 2026: the most important developments in politics
The Southern Cone in August 2026 was dominated by a diplomatic break between Argentina and Brazil. On August 3, Argentine President Javier Milei attacked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof and foreigners, repeating his description of Lula as a "thief". Brazil recalled its ambassador on August 4. On August 5, Brazil said it would not replace him, downgraded diplomatic relations and asked the Argentine ambassador to leave; Argentina said it would not retaliate. Brazil later told Argentina to stop its aggressive rhetoric, Lula reached out to right-wing leaders in the region, and on August 19 Milei called Lula a "tumor". At month end, ties remained downgraded.
At home, Milei faced a divided political field. The opposition-led Senate limited his plans on a private property law, and governors from cold-zone provinces blocked cuts to gas subsidies. Milei and former President Mauricio Macri clashed over Buenos Aires politics, while Macri and Milei's sister Karina Milei agreed to meet to discuss an alliance between their parties. Milei drew criticism on August 20 for questioning doubts about an assassination attempt and attacking abortion laws. On August 27, Congress approved his central bank reform, which gives the bank greater independence and restricts its financing of government spending; supporters said it would stabilize prices and opponents warned it could deepen recession.
Abroad, Pope Leo XIV was scheduled to visit Argentina in November. Milei met Spain's King Felipe VI warmly at the inauguration of Colombia's new president on August 7, and reports on August 17 said he would campaign for Donald Trump in the United States and lead Argentina Week in Paris. Argentina sent aid to Colombia after an earthquake on August 19 and authorized the deportation of Fernando Farias Laguna to Mexico.
Elsewhere in the region, Chile announced the closure of its embassy in Iran, a court in Bolivia ordered 180 days of pretrial detention for Fernando Cerimedo, and Japan's Crown Prince and Princess visited Paraguay for the 90th anniversary of Japanese immigration.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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