US Revokes Brazilian Ambassador's Visa, Escalating Diplomatic Tensions
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The Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to the US in retaliation for Brasília's refusal to approve the US ambassador nominee and for denying visas to two American officials. The move escalates diplomatic tensions as Brazil approaches its October presidential election, with Brazil condemning it as a deliberate hostile act.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, in a move that escalates diplomatic tensions with the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The US State Department confirmed the revocation of Viotti's visa, a former senior UN official, as retaliation for Brazil's refusal to approve the US ambassador nominee put forward by Trump, and also cited Brasília's decision last month to deny visas to two American diplomatic officials who were set to visit ahead of the October elections.
However, the US administration has not yet expelled Viotti. Washington warned it could impose further diplomatic measures if Brazil continues to delay the approval of nominee Daniel Perez, a Republican congressman from Florida and a close ally of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“We have been in continuous contact with the Brazilian government for weeks and have provided every opportunity for them to act appropriately, but they have consistently delayed and avoided,” a State Department spokesperson said.
The ambassador's visa could be restored if Brasília agrees to accept Perez's appointment. “This is a reciprocal action. If the ambassador leaves the US, she will have to apply for a new visa,” the spokesperson added.
The dispute comes amid an increasingly heated election campaign in Brazil, where President Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, facing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and a close political ally of Trump.
Brasília quickly condemned the US move, calling it part of a deliberate campaign to influence the election. President Lula's office stated: “Today's decision is not an isolated incident. It is part of a deliberate escalation of hostile measures against Brazil, driven by ideological motives.”
Brazil also accused the US of violating diplomatic norms by publicly announcing Perez's nomination before consulting Brasília. The Brazilian government said the review process for the appointment is still ongoing and has made clear it will not make a decision before the first round of the presidential election, scheduled for October 4.
The Trump administration argued that Brazil has no right to interfere with the US president's choice of ambassador to that country. “President Trump has the right to decide who represents the American people and the interests of the United States around the world. We reject any foreign efforts to interfere in our internal processes,” the State Department declared.
The latest incident stems from Brazil's refusal last month to grant visas to Riley Barnes, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and a senior aide. The two officials were scheduled to visit Brasília from July 27 to 30 to meet with government officials, religious leaders, and stakeholders regarding electoral integrity, religious freedom, and freedom of expression.
Washington described the trip as routine and rejected Brazil's allegations that it was intended to interfere in the election. “Any insinuation of a 'plot' to undermine the election of a democratic nation is an unfounded lie,” the State Department emphasized.
Brasília stood by its decision, arguing that the US officials intended to cast doubt on the integrity of Brazil's electronic voting system, which they called “an unacceptable attempt to interfere in the national political process.”
The controversy is particularly sensitive because Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters have for years claimed, without evidence, that Brazil's electronic voting system is vulnerable to fraud. Bolsonaro has been barred from running for office and convicted in connection with a plot to overturn his defeat in the 2022 election.
This is the latest diplomatic confrontation in a series of disagreements between Trump and Lula, as the two governments hold opposing views on Latin American politics, Venezuela, Cuba, and the US role in the region. Trump has repeatedly intervened in Latin American elections, while Lula views national sovereignty as a central theme of his campaign.
Economic pressures are also adding to the tensions. The Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 37.5% on thousands of Brazilian exports, alleging that Brazil engages in unfair trade practices and fails to combat forced labor. Lula's government rejects these allegations and accuses the Trump administration of seeking to help Bolsonaro's political family.
The US has also designated Brazil's two largest drug trafficking organizations as foreign terrorist organizations, a move opposed by Lula's government. However, the State Department still insists it wants to restore normal relations with Brasília. “We want to return to a state of normal, productive, and transparent relations with our counterparts,” a senior US official said.
