President's 'murderer' comments causes row between Colombia and Argentina

A renewed diplomatic row has broken out between Colombia and Argentina over comments made by President Javier Milei about his Colombian counterpart.

Presidents Gustavo Petro and Javier Milei. Pic: AP/Reuters

The outspoken Argentine leader called President Gustavo Petro a “terrorist”, “murderer” and “communist” in a recent interview with CNN.

Colombia has retaliated by ordering the expulsion of Argentine diplomats from their embassy in the Andean nation.

“The Argentine president’s comments have deteriorated the trust of our nation, in addition to offending the dignity of President Petro, who was democratically elected,” Colombia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

In January, Colombia recalled its ambassador to Argentina after similar comments from President Milei, who came into power in December.

He is known as “the madman” by some of his followers and leads a nation facing very high annual inflation and national debt.

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In the CNN interview – which has yet to be aired in full – President Milei also took swipes at other regional leaders, including Mexico’s Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

President Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, is a former member of the long-demobilised M-19 guerrilla movement.