Diplomatic crisis: US revokes visa of Brazilian ambassador
The US State Department has revoked the visa of Brazilian ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, stating it will only be reinstated once Brazil grants diplomatic approval to President Donald Trump's nominee, Daniel Perez. "We need an immediate and positive answer," Washington officials declared.
The US State Department has revoked the visa of the Brazilian ambassador to the United States, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, a senior official reported. This move marks a further escalation in the diplomatic tension between Washington and Brasilia.
According to the official, the visa will be restored immediately if Brazil grants the necessary diplomatic approval to President Donald Trump's nominee for the position of US ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Perez. Brazil has yet to approve the appointment, a move that prevents him from taking office.
The American official stated that Brazil "has not only delayed the process but is also signaling that it may postpone it until after the elections," adding that the dispute is occurring against the backdrop of a series of other diplomatic conflicts between the countries over the past year. Washington insists that Brazil "must provide a quick and positive answer" to the request.
The Brazilian government condemned the decision, calling the American arguments "false." Its statement claimed that the US announced the candidate for ambassador even before the official request for approval was submitted, noting that a candidate should only be announced after receiving the consent of the host country. It was further stated that this is a "deliberate escalation of hostile measures" that harms mutual respect between the nations.
The current crisis follows a series of previous confrontations, including Brazil's refusal in July to grant visas to two American officials, citing an attempt to interfere in the country's upcoming elections. Washington rejected the accusations, claiming it was a routine diplomatic visit.
Tension between the countries is also expanding into the economic sphere: the United States recently imposed tariffs of 25% on imports from Brazil, citing unfair trade practices. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva rejected the claims and accused Washington of political motives, pointing to the US trade surplus with Brazil in recent years.
In addition, the Trump administration recently designated two Brazilian criminal organizations as foreign terrorist organizations—a move that sparked sharp criticism from Lula, who said that Brazil will not agree to be treated "like a banana republic."
The confrontations are taking place against the backdrop of the election campaign in Brazil, in which Lula is running for another term against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a long prison sentence following an attempted coup after his defeat in the 2022 elections.
