In a move fueled by escalating tensions, Bolivia has recalled its ambassador to neighboring Argentina after President Javier Milei declared the alleged coup attempt against President Luis Arce as "fraudulent." This comes after Army chief Juan José Zúñiga was arrested last week following the deployment of soldiers and tanks outside government buildings, raising concerns of an attempted ousting of Arce.

Zúñiga claimed he was following orders and accused the Bolivian president of wanting to trigger a crackdown in order to boost his popularity as the country faces economic challenges including surging prices and shortages of money and fuel. The international community, including Bolivia's influential former president, Evo Morales, condemned the events. Morales, who is in a feud with Arce ahead of the 2025 elections, accused the president of orchestrating a "self-coup."

President Arce, in his first public appearance after the incident, denied any conspiracy with Zúñiga and asserted the coup claims as false. However, President Milei controversially labeled Arce's allegations as "fraudulent." This statement sparked an outrage, leading Bolivia to issue a "strong rejection" and recall its ambassador to Argentina for consultations.

Bolivia's Foreign Ministry simultaneously summoned Argentina's ambassador in La Paz to express its outrage over Milei's statements. The statement from Bolivia's Presidential Spokesperson, María Nela Prada, emphasized the need for the ambassador to return to the seat of government to discuss the matter further.

The Bolivian Foreign Ministry condemned Argentina's leader for making "uninformed and tendentious assertions" about the alleged coup d'état, terming it as "an unacceptable excess and denialism." The tensions between the two countries have escalated as Argentina reversed its initial stance and acknowledged that the coup attempt was faked, which further aggravated Bolivia's government.

President Milei has not shied away from engaging in confrontations with leftist leaders since assuming office in December. He has insulted the Spanish prime minister, as well as the presidents of Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, and Brazil. Last week, he directed harsh words towards Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, describing the former Brazilian leader as a "little lefty" with an "inflated ego."

In a notable shift, President Milei opted out of attending the Mercosur summit in Paraguay, where he would have met Lula. Citing "agenda issues," Milei will instead travel to Brazil over the weekend, possibly to meet with Lula's right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. Reports suggest that Milei will attend the CPAC Brasil summit.

The recall of the ambassador and the summoning of Argentina's ambassador represent a deepening rift between Bolivia and Argentina over the controversial coup allegations. The response from both countries highlights the fragility of diplomatic relations in the region as political tensions continue to unfold.

The situation is still evolving, and it remains to be seen how these recent developments will impact the future relations between Bolivia and Argentina.