Lula says Paraguay chose to invade Brazil, angering Paraguay's Congress
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva invoked the 1864-1870 War of the Triple Alliance to defend increased defense spending, saying Paraguay had chosen to invade Brazil. Both chambers of Paraguay's Congress formally rejected the remarks, accusing him of distorting history.
Brazilian President Lula cited the 19th-century War of the Triple Alliance to justify an increase in defense spending, saying Paraguay had chosen to invade Brazil at the time. The remark sparked unexpected diplomatic friction between the two countries.
Both chambers of Paraguay's Congress quickly issued a formal rejection, accusing Lula of distorting historical facts. Paraguayan lawmakers argued the war erupted from a complex web of regional alliances and diplomatic crises, not a unilateral invasion.
The spat is the latest in a string of regional diplomatic frictions for Lula in recent weeks, as the president also contends with allegations that Argentina's Milei interfered in Brazil's elections. Analysts say invoking history for present-day politics has become a recurring source of strain within Mercosur.
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