The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, escalating a diplomatic dispute tied to Brazil's upcoming October 4 presidential election. The move follows Brazil's refusal to approve Daniel Perez, Donald Trump's nominee for US ambassador in Brasília, and its earlier denial of visas to two US diplomats. The state department stated the visa cancellation was a reciprocal action after Brasília blocked Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes and a senior aide from entering the country for meetings on election integrity, religious freedom and expression between July 27 and 30. Washington described the trip as routine and dismissed claims of interference, while Brazil accused the officials of attempting to undermine confidence in its electronic voting system.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the revocation as part of a broader campaign of hostile measures driven by ideological motives. His office emphasized that the decision was not isolated and pointed to prior tensions, including US tariffs of up to 37.5% on Brazilian exports over alleged forced labour and unfair trade practices. The state department maintained that Trump has the right to appoint any representative without foreign interference, stating it had given Brazil ample opportunity to cooperate. Viotti has not been expelled, but if she leaves the US, she would need to reapply for entry. The dispute unfolds against a tense electoral backdrop, with Lula facing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is barred from office after being convicted in a plot to overturn the 2022 election.
The US revoked a sitting ambassador's visa over a stalled appointment linked to an election monitoring visit that Brazil views as interference. This raises questions about whether diplomatic protocols are being used to exert political pressure ahead of Brazil's vote. The state department insists the action is reciprocal, yet Brazil still has not finalized its decision on the US ambassador nominee.
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