U.S. revokes visa for Brazil’s ambassador amid diplomatic tensions
The Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazil’s U.S. ambassador Tuesday — the latest jab in a monthslong diplomatic spat between the two countries, reports BritPanorama.
This action was taken in retaliation for Brazil’s withholding formal approval for the Trump administration’s pick for U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, according to a senior State Department official.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that Brazil has indicated the approval is likely to be delayed until after its elections in October.
The tit-for-tat has escalated since March, when Brazil denied visas to a U.S. delegation attending a critical minerals forum. In July, Brazil also denied visas to two U.S. officials, accusing them of attempting to meddle in Brazil’s electoral process.
“This week we had to deny visas to two young folks they were sending to Brazil to meddle in Brazil’s elections,” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated at an event last Wednesday.
The State Department official denied the accusations, asserting that Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Riley M. Barnes, and one of his deputies were “making a routine trip” and merely seeking to engage in common work between the two nations.
“We’ve taken reciprocal action with respect to the Brazilian diplomat here to make the point that it can’t always be one-sided,” the senior official emphasized. “If there’s going to be limitations on one side’s diplomats, they will be reciprocated.”
The official clarified that Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti will not be expelled from the U.S. but warned that further diplomatic actions remain possible if Brazil continues to delay or refuse to approve the U.S. ambassador nominee. Should Viotti leave the U.S., she must reapply for her visa, which will be reinstated if Brazil approves Perez.
“We communicated continually with the Brazilian government for weeks and have given the Brazilian government every opportunity to do the right thing, yet they have continually delayed and obfuscated,” the official remarked. “President Trump has the right to determine who represents the American people and interests around the world.”
The official further noted, “President Trump is assembling an America First diplomatic A-team across his administration, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. We reject any effort by foreign countries to interfere in our domestic processes.”
