BOGOTA

Brazil expelled Nicaraguan Ambassador Fulvia Patricia Castro Matu on Thursday, local media reported.

The move came after Nicaragua declared Brazil's Ambassador Breno de Souza Brasil da Costa persona non grata and ordered his expulsion.

Brazilian authorities criticized the move by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, warning that such actions would not benefit either country and could further strain bilateral relations.

Nicaraguan media reported that the government’s decision to expel Ambassador Da Costa was linked to his absence from the 45th anniversary celebrations of the Sandinista Revolution held in the capital Managua.

Diplomatic tensions between the two nations have been escalating since Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attempted to mediate the release of Catholic bishops detained in Nicaragua.

In an interview with the El Pais daily, Lula revealed that Pope Francis had asked him to intervene with Ortega on behalf of a jailed bishop.

However, Ortega reportedly refused to respond to Lula’s calls, leading the Brazilian leader to abandon further attempts at dialogue.

The reciprocal expulsions mark a significant downturn in relations between Brazil and Nicaragua, raising concerns over the future of diplomatic ties between the two Latin American nations.