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Relations between the United States and Brazil have deteriorated further after Washington withdrew the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the US, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, in what American officials described as a reciprocal diplomatic measure.
According to the US State Department, the decision follows Brazil’s refusal to grant entry visas to two senior American officials who had planned to travel to the South American nation last month.
Washington stressed that the action does not amount to the ambassador’s expulsion, although officials indicated that additional diplomatic measures remain under consideration.
A State Department spokesperson said the US had engaged Brazilian authorities for several weeks in an effort to resolve the matter, but accused Brasília of repeatedly delaying the process instead of addressing Washington’s concerns.
Brazil rejected the explanation, describing the US justification as inaccurate.
In a statement, the Brazilian Presidency maintained that the visa denial for the American delegation was necessary to protect the country’s internal political affairs.
The two US officials had intended to hold discussions on issues including electoral integrity, religious liberty and freedom of expression.
Their itinerary also reportedly included a meeting with presidential hopeful Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused the American representatives of attempting to interfere in Brazil’s electoral process, an allegation Washington dismissed as unfounded.
The disagreement intensified after Flávio Bolsonaro reportedly suggested to foreign diplomats that Brazil’s electronic voting system shared similarities with Venezuela’s and referenced intelligence claims concerning election manipulation in that country.
He later clarified that he was not disputing Brazil’s voting process but was instead advocating for increased international election monitoring.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court has consistently defended the credibility of the country’s electronic voting system, which election specialists have frequently cited as among the most reliable globally.
The diplomatic dispute has unfolded alongside broader tensions between the two governments.
In recent months, the United States restored tariffs on certain Brazilian goods and designated several Brazilian criminal organisations as terrorist groups, prompting criticism from Brasília.
Meanwhile, Brazil has yet to approve US President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Brasília, Daniel Perez, a Florida state representative and close associate of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Brazilian authorities said the nomination remains under review in accordance with diplomatic procedures and international law.
President Lula has repeatedly criticised the US State Department under Rubio, accusing Washington of becoming increasingly involved in political affairs across Latin America, particularly through support for conservative political candidates.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong