Full story
Visa revoked in tit-for-tat
The United States revoked the visa of Brazilian ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti in Washington, escalating a diplomatic standoff with Brazil ahead of Brazil’s presidential election in October.
“The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador, a State Department official said Tuesday”
A senior State Department official said the visa would be restored if the “balance is restored by giving agrément to our chosen ambassadorial nominee,” referring to President Donald Trump’s nominee Daniel Perez.
Trump nominated Daniel Perez, a prominent Florida Republican, as the new ambassador to Brazil in early June, and the US Senate has yet to confirm the nomination.
Brazil’s envoy was not being declared persona non grata or forced to leave the United States, the State Department official clarified, while Brasilia condemned the US move as “a deliberate escalation of hostile measures against Brazil, motivated by ideological reasons.”
Reciprocal action and rebuttals
The BBC reported that the US decision did not mean Viotti was being expelled, with a state department spokesperson calling it a “reciprocal action” and saying “additional diplomatic options remain on the table.”
In a statement to the BBC, Brazil’s Presidency of the Republic said the US justifications for cancelling the envoy’s visa were “false,” while the BBC said Lula accused the two denied US officials of wanting to “meddle” in Brazil’s elections.
The BBC also said the Brazilian presidency told the BBC the US officials' planned visit was “an unacceptable attempt to interfere in the country's domestic political process,” after Brazil blocked visas for a US delegation due to concerns about questioning the integrity of Brazil’s electronic voting system.
The dispute also centered on the US Senate process for Perez, with the BBC noting that Trump nominated Perez and that Brazil withheld approval for him to take up the post until after Brazil’s election.
The BBC further tied the confrontation to earlier visa denials for Riley M Barnes and Samuel Samson, with the BBC stating the State Department said their planned trip was routine and about “election integrity, religious freedom and freedom of expression.”
What’s at stake next
Washington said the visa revocation could be quickly reversed if Brazil accepts Trump’s ambassadorial choice, with the State Department official saying the measure “does not mean her expulsion from the country.”
“"does not mean her expulsion from the country"”
The Hill reported that the State Department spokesperson described the move as “a reciprocal action” tied to Brazil delaying approval of Daniel Perez, Trump’s pick for ambassador to Brazil, in a process both sides referred to as “agrément.”
CBS News said Viotti’s visa would be reinstated immediately if Brazil grants diplomatic approval for Perez, while also noting that the dispute follows Brazil’s earlier decision to deny visas to two US State Department officials ahead of October elections.
The Guardian reported that Brazil’s consideration of Perez was still “under review” and that no decision would be taken before the first round of the election on 4 October, while the Guardian said the US warned further diplomatic action remains possible if Brasília continues to withhold approval.
CBS News added that the visa dispute sits alongside other tensions, including the Trump administration’s imposition of 25% tariffs on imports from Brazil last month, with Lula condemning the tariffs and denying “the alleged unfair trade practices.”
