Diplomatic row over 160-year-old war

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 04:21

  

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva disagree about the countries' wars in the 19th century. Archive photo. Photo: Eraldo Peres/AP/TT

Paraguayan Foreign Minister has summoned Brazil's ambassador after a comment by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about a war the countries fought 160 years ago.

When Lula was about to justify higher funding for the military a week ago, he added:

- There are crazy people in the world who want to start wars. Let's not forget that Paraguay one day decided to invade Brazil.

That made Paraguay see red and demand an explanation on "this sensitive issue".

According to Brazilian O Globo, the presidents of the countries will talk about how the countries should move forward in diplomatic relations.

The war in question, the War of the Triple Alliance of 1864–1870, is considered the bloodiest war in South American history. And Lula was not entirely wrong, it was started by Paraguay when it wanted to help Uruguay against Brazil.