Israel's Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has arrived in Latin America for a ten-day visit.

It is the first time in more than ten years that an Israeli Foreign Minister has visited the region. Mr Lieberman's journey is intended chiefly to limit Iran's steadily growing influence in Latin America.

For security reasons, Mr Lieberman's itinerary has not been made public. What is known is that he will begin his tour in Brazil, after which he will travel to Argentina, Peru and Colombia. Venezuela, Iran's greatest ally in the region, is not on the list.

The ultra-nationalist Israeli minister has retained his international reputation for controversy. Before his visit to Brazil he called Valter Poma, an important politician in the Brazilian government, a "racist and a fascist".

Photo of Avigdor Lieberman from Wikimedia Commons