Argentinian president attacks Spanish prime minister: “His left-wing policies only bring death and poverty”

Argentine President Javier Milei has lashed out at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, accusing him of “bringing only death and poverty”. Earlier, a Spanish minister had insinuated that Milei had ingested “substances” during his election campaign.

The diplomatic row began on Friday with comments made by Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente, who had suggested during a panel discussion in Salamanca that Argentine President Javier Milei had ingested certain “substances” during last year’s election campaign.

Milei’s office responded to those comments on Saturday with a statement attacking Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. According to Milei, Sánchez “endangers Spanish women by allowing illegal immigration,” “undermines the integrity of Spain by making deals with separatists,” and “his left-wing policies bring only death and poverty.”

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently responded to those statements by stating that “the Spanish government categorically rejects these unfounded words,” and that “they do not reflect the relations between the two countries and their brother peoples.”

Relations between Spain and Argentina have cooled considerably after the election of right-wing populist Milei in December. Milei will travel to Spain in two weeks for an event organized by the far-right opposition party Vox.