Brasilia, August 27 (RHC)-- Brazil is rejecting a pledge by G-7 nations to provide $22 million to help combat the raging Amazon wildfires.  On Monday, Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro accused French President Emmanuel Macron and other G-7 world leaders of treating Brazil like a “colony or no-man’s land.” 

Bolsonaro’s chief of staff suggested the funds could be used for reforesting in Europe instead. He also said Macron had no place intervening after he failed to prevent a destructive fire earlier this year that burned down a large part of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. 

Many have called out the G-7 for not putting nearly enough resources toward the mounting disaster, with some noting that $1 billion was raised within just two days of the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire.

The dispute between Presidents Bolsonaro and Macron took a personal turn after Bolsonaro commented on an image posted by a supporter on Facebook, suggesting Macron was jealous of Bolsonaro because his wife is 30 years younger than French first lady Brigitte Macron. 

Bolsonaro’s comment expressed amusement and read: “Do not embarrass the guy.”  President Macron called the comment “incredibly disrespectful.”