Brazil accuses US of hostile escalation after ambassador visa revoked

According to the statement, the measure is part of a “deliberate escalation of actions hostile to Brazil”, motivated by ideological reasons incompatible with the bilateral relationship historically built on mutual respect.

“The unreasonable interest in interfering in the next election for president is also obvious,” stated the Brazilian government.

The revocation of the visa was announced by the United States Department of State, which indicated the possibility of reviewing the decision if Brazil grants diplomatic approval to the name chosen by Donald Trump to command the North American Embassy in Brasília.

Daniel Perez was appointed to the position in June, but still needs to have his name approved by the United States Congress. The withdrawal of Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti's visa, according to the State Department itself, does not represent her expulsion from North American territory.

Washington claims to have adopted the measure after receiving indications that Brazil would only authorize Perez's appointment after the Brazilian general elections. For the United States government, this condition would be unacceptable.

Planalto responded that the process of granting the agrément, authorization necessary for a foreign ambassador to assume the post, is confidential. The note also recalled that Daniel Perez's name was publicly disclosed by the United States before the formal presentation of the request to the Brazilian government.

Brasília also stated that it strictly follows international law. According to the government, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations does not establish a deadline for granting approval, and the North American request remains under analysis.

The State Department also claimed to have acted based on the principle of reciprocity after Brazil denied visas to two US diplomats two weeks earlier. Washington maintained that the representatives intended to make an official visit to the country.

The Brazilian government, however, stated that the two officials sought to question the integrity of the national electoral system. Planalto classified the initiative as an unacceptable attempt to interfere in the Brazilian political process.

The note also mentioned the individual sanctions maintained by the United States against Brazilian authorities, including the cancellation of visas for ministers of the Federal Supreme Court and members of the first echelon of the federal government.

During a visit to Washington in May, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva directly asked Donald Trump for these measures to be withdrawn.

“Today’s decision is not an isolated fact. It is part of a deliberate escalation of measures hostile to Brazil, motivated by ideological reasons incompatible with a bilateral partnership that has always been guided by mutual respect”, declared the government.

The statement ends with the defense of diplomacy and negotiation as instruments to resolve differences between the two countries.

“In line with its diplomatic tradition, the Brazilian government opposes the logic of confrontation and reiterates its defense of dialogue and negotiation in all its international relations,” stated Planalto.

Relations between Brasília and Washington have been going through a period of tension since last year, when Trump announced the first customs tariffs against Brazilian products. In July, the United States applied new surcharges to Brazilian exports.

Last month, Washington also extended the country's related state of emergency for a year, classifying actions by the Brazilian government as an “unusual and extraordinary” threat to North American national security, foreign policy and economy.

Recently, the United States also included the First Capital Command and the Red Command on the list of global terrorist organizations.

Trump administration revokes visa of Brazilian ambassador to the United States

Measure amounts to expulsion of the diplomat; Washington states that the measure will be reviewed after approval for Daniel Perez. In a rare move in diplomacy, the US announced the name of a new ambassador without approval from the Lula government