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The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington, a State Department official said on Tuesday, escalating a diplomatic dispute that comes months before Brazil's presidential election. Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti's visa was temporarily revoked, but she was not being expelled from the country, according to an anonymous State Department official who briefed reporters.

The move was framed as a response to Brazil's denial of visas to two American diplomats who sought to visit the country ahead of the October elections, and to Brazil's failure to approve President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador, Florida Republican Daniel Perez. The official said the visa would be restored if Brazil grants approval to Perez, who was nominated in June but has yet to be confirmed by the US Senate.

Coverage Comparison

Multiple news outlets reported the visa revocation on Tuesday, citing State Department sources. Al Jazeera reported the development as the latest sign of a deepening rift between the two countries, emphasizing that the action was in response to Brazil's denial of approval for Trump's ambassador. The outlet quoted an anonymous US official saying the revocation was "not the same thing as kicking the person out of the country."

Deutsche Welle and France 24 — English framed the story as a mounting diplomatic row, with both noting the visa revocation was in response to Brazil's denial of visas to US diplomats. Deutsche Welle also reported that the US has accused Brazil of stalling Trump's ambassadorial choice, and that Brazil rejected the decision, calling it an escalation. France 24 — English highlighted Trump's nominee and the election context.

The South China Morning Post also covered the story with a neutral tone, focusing on the visa revocation and its link to Brazil's denial of approval for Trump's ambassador.

Key Claims

  • The US has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, according to an anonymous State Department official cited by multiple outlets.
  • The revocation was in response to Brazil's denial of visas to two American diplomats who sought to visit Brazil ahead of the elections, as reported by Deutsche Welle, France 24 — English, and South China Morning Post.
  • The US has accused Brazil of stalling Trump's ambassadorial choice, Daniel Perez, according to Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera.
  • Brazil's government condemned the US decision, with the office of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stating it was "part of a deliberate escalation of hostile measures against Brazil, motivated by ideological reasons," as reported by Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera.
  • State Department officials said the decision could be reversed if Brazil takes appropriate action and accepts Trump's ambassadorial nominee, according to Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

The Brazilian government has framed the US action as an escalation of a political conflict, according to a statement from the office of President Lula da Silva carried by Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle. The statement described the move as part of a "deliberate escalation of hostile measures" driven by ideological reasons, and linked it to US interest in interfering in Brazil's upcoming presidential election.

US officials, speaking anonymously to reporters, have presented the visa revocation as a reciprocal measure aimed at restoring balance in the diplomatic relationship. They emphasized that the visa would be restored if Brazil approves Trump's nominee, and expressed a desire for "normal, productive, transparent relations," as quoted in one report. A State Department spokesperson also denied allegations that the two US officials denied visas by Brazil had planned to undermine Brazil's election system, calling any such insinuation a "baseless lie."

Background

The dispute occurs against the backdrop of Brazil's presidential election in October, in which incumbent Lula faces a challenge from right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump has been a staunch supporter of Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for plotting a coup after his 2022 election loss, as reported by Al Jazeera. Flavio Bolsonaro has renewed unfounded claims about the security of Brazil's electronic voting system, according to the same reports.

Brazil recently denied visas to two officials from the US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, citing concerns that the delegation intended to undermine the country's election system, as reported by multiple outlets. The US denied those allegations, saying the officials wanted to discuss election integrity, religious freedom, and freedom of expression.

The visa revocation does not amount to expulsion, and Viotti may remain in the US without a visa until the matter is resolved, according to the US official's remarks.