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Visa Revoked, Feud Escalates
The Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the US, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, in retaliation for Brazil’s refusal to approve Trump’s nominee for ambassador in Brasília and its decision last month to deny visas to two US diplomats seeking to visit ahead of an October election.
“The US state department said Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti’s visa had been cancelled in retaliation”
The US State Department said the move was a “reciprocal action,” while warning that further diplomatic action remains possible if Brasília continues to withhold approval for would-be ambassador Daniel Perez, a Florida Republican and close ally of US secretary of state Marco Rubio.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the decision as “irresponsible and ill-advised,” and said in an interview Wednesday that “We cannot accept interference.”
The dispute is tied to Brazil’s election calendar, with the Guardian reporting that the Brazilian government said no decision would be taken before the first round of the election on 4 October, and the BBC noting that the visa cancellation came “ahead of Brazil’s elections.”
Quotes, Denials, and Timing
A State Department spokesperson told the BBC, “We communicated continually with the Brazilian government for weeks and have given the Brazilian government every opportunity to do the right thing,” while also saying the action did not mean Viotti was being expelled from the US.
In response, Brazil’s Presidency told the BBC that US justifications for cancelling the envoy’s visa were “false,” and the Guardian reported that Lula’s office said: “Today’s decision is not an isolated incident.”
The BBC said the US decision followed Brazil’s denial of visas to two US state department officials who wanted to visit Brazil last month, and it identified them as Riley M Barnes and Samuel Samson.
The BBC also reported that Washington warned “additional diplomatic options remain on the table,” while Brazil’s government said it was abiding by international law and that the Perez request remained under review under the agrément process.
What’s at Stake Next
The BBC said the dispute is entangled with Brazil’s election campaign, in which Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth, non-consecutive term against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, and it described how Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court has rejected claims about the security of Brazil’s electronic voting machines.
“additional diplomatic options remain on the table”
The Guardian reported that the US warned further diplomatic action remains possible if Brasília continues to withhold approval for Daniel Perez, and it said the ambassador’s visa could be restored if Brazil accepts Perez’s appointment.
The BBC added that the elder Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after losing the last election, while it reported that Flávio Bolsonaro told diplomats that Brazil’s machines had the same origin as Venezuela’s and later denied questioning integrity.
In parallel, the BBC said the US and Brazil have been clashing over tariffs and other issues, and it reported that the state department spokesperson said “additional diplomatic options remain on the table” as the standoff continues into the period leading up to 4 October.
