Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has triggered a Twitter storm and a regional race debate with misjudged comments seeking to play up the South American country’s ties with Europe.

The comments came when Mr Fernandez was speaking with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday.

“The Mexicans came from the Indians, the Brazilians came from the jungle, but we Argentines came from the ships. And they were ships that came from Europe,” Mr Fernandez said, referring to the country’s many European migrants.

He later apologised for the comments and said his country’s diversity was something to be proud of.

Mr Fernandez seems to have taken the phrase from a song by local musician Lito Nebbia, of whom the President has declared himself an admirer on more than one occasion.

The comments sparked a viral response on social media, with many criticising Mr Fernandez for racial insensitivity.

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