WASHINGTON/SAO PAULO — Citing security concerns, the United States suspended consular services on Friday, prompting Australia to also close its embassy two days before the country’s presidential election, fueling an already uneasy environment, reports BritPanorama.
Brazil’s Federal Police confirmed on Friday afternoon that they conducted preventive searches in Sao Paulo and near Brasilia, yet found no evidence of a threat or identified any suspects linked to criminal organizations.
The State Department did not detail the security issues nor directly connect them to Sunday’s election, which has been marked by rising tensions regarding alleged foreign interference and strains between Washington and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government.
“We are working closely with our Brazilian counterparts to address the security concerns,” a department spokesperson stated via email.
The timing of the consular service suspension is particularly significant, as Brazil prepares for a pivotal electoral vote. “Consular Services in the US Embassy and Consulates in Brazil will be suspended starting Friday, October 2 due to security concerns,” the announcement read. “US citizens seeking emergency assistance during this time should not come to the Embassy, the Consulates, or other US diplomatic facilities.”
In response to the U.S. decision, Australia’s ambassador to Brazil, Sophie Davies, announced on social media that the Australian embassy in Brasilia would also be closed on Friday due to the security concerns, referencing the alert issued by the U.S. and advising Australians to avoid U.S. embassies and consulates in Brazil.
Brazil’s foreign ministry declined to comment on the closures.
Election tensions
The State Department’s announcement arrives at a tense moment for U.S.-Brazil relations. Brazilians will cast their votes on Sunday in a crucial presidential election that will determine whether the nation follows a conservative trajectory, which U.S. President Donald Trump has often supported from afar.
Lula and his allies have expressed concerns over foreign interference in the election, citing tariffs and Washington’s attempts to send officials to Brazil intended to “discuss electoral integrity.”
Edinho Silva, president of Lula’s Workers’ Party, characterized the service closures as “unprecedented” during a press conference held this Friday.
“It makes no sense at all. It’s one of Trump’s ways of trying to influence Brazilian public opinion,” Silva said, voicing his discontent over the situation.
Though Trump has publicly acknowledged Lula’s primary right-wing challenger, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, he has not formally endorsed a candidate. The State Department has dismissed allegations of election meddling; however, the specter of interference looms over the electoral process.
This month, Brazilian intelligence officials briefed a French and German delegation in Brasilia regarding what they deemed as U.S. and Russian interference ahead of the elections, highlighting transatlantic concerns regarding Trump’s support for like-minded candidates.
Amidst this backdrop, violent crime remains a dominant concern among Brazilian voters, compelling candidates to promise stronger security measures in their campaigns.
