Diplomatic crisis between Spain and Argentina
At the international far-right gathering in Madrid last weekend, Argentina's President Javier Milei called Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, corrupt. Spain responded by closing its embassy in Buenos Aires, which Milei then described as "nonsense from an arrogant socialist". Spain's press sees only one side benefiting from this spat.
Escalation with an open outcome
La Vanguardia wonders where all this will lead:
“Both sides are eager for conflict. The Argentinian president because he is quarrelsome and provocative by nature. This is what won him the elections and now enables him to create smokescreens that divert attention from his country's unfortunate political and economic reality. The Spanish prime minister because, beyond his genuine disgust with Milei's words, he sees a great opportunity to position himself as an alternative to the right in the European election campaign. ... The big question is where this escalation in the conflict will lead. Milei won't stop with his tirades against Sánchez. And Spain has economic interests in Argentina. ... The crisis is clearly not in the interest of either side, but least of all Spain.”
Don't feed the troll
Pedro Sánchez has fallen into Javier Milei's trap, says eldiario.es:
“If you feed the troll, even if it is in the guise of a head of state, it will end up gobbling up everything, including you. You may gain the upper hand in the short term, but in the medium and long term the troll will achieve its goal: changing the discourse, making it impossible and imposing its own message. Now Prime Minister Sánchez's wife, whom he wanted to protect from attacks, is being dragged through the mud by savage trolls working in politics and journalism. Of course we must stand up to them, but not like this, because this approach will only make them bigger and noisier and spread confusion and despondency.”
Spain's embassy in Moscow is still open
El Mundo says Spain has overreacted:
“Javier Milei's unacceptable insults require a correction. However, the withdrawal of the Spanish ambassador to Buenos Aires is a disproportionate and irresponsible decision which the foreign ministry hasn't even taken with a country like Russia, which is at war with Europe and widely suspected of having carried out attacks on our territory. A country where half a million Spaniards live is being subjected to a calculation by Spain's government that will have harmful effects for the 117 Spanish companies operating in Argentina.”