The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States in what US officials described as a reciprocal response to Brazil’s refusal to issue visas to two American diplomats and its delay in approving President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Brazil. The US State Department said the decision followed Brazil’s denial last month of visas for two US officials who had planned to visit the country ahead of October’s presidential election.
“Reciprocity is the name of the game,” a State Department official said.
US officials said the measure had been delayed several times to give Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva an opportunity to reverse course, but that did not happen. They added that the decision could be reversed if Brazil approves Trump’s nominee, former Florida House Speaker Danny Perez, as US ambassador to Brazil.
Despite the visa revocation, Brazil’s ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, is not being expelled from the United States, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Also Read: ‘Sovereign Brazil Takes No Tutelage – President Lula Hits Back at Trump
They said she could resume her official duties if Brazil accepts Trump’s ambassadorial nominee. However, they believe Brazil is unlikely to do so before the presidential election on October 4.
Brazil also denied visas last month to Riley Barnes, the US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, and one of his senior aides after reports suggested the pair intended to criticise President Lula or Brazil’s electoral process.
The State Department rejected those claims, saying the officials had planned to visit Brasília between 27 and 30 July to meet government officials, religious leaders and others to discuss “election integrity”, religious freedom and freedom of expression.
The department said the trip was routine and that “any insinuation of a ‘ploy’ to undermine a democratic nation’s election is a baseless lie.”
President Lula is due to face Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, in the 4 October election. The Trump administration has criticised Lula’s policies and has maintained close ties with the Bolsonaro family.
Senator Bolsonaro and his brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, met US officials, including President Trump, in Washington in late May.
Shortly afterwards, the Trump administration designated Brazil’s two largest drug trafficking groups — First Command Capital and Red Command — as foreign terrorist organisations, a move opposed by Lula.
The US also imposed tariff increases of up to 37.5% on thousands of Brazilian exports, which took effect on Friday. Washington says Brazil engages in unfair trade practices and has failed to address forced labour concerns. The Lula administration rejects those allegations, describing them as an attempt to influence the election in favour of Senator Bolsonaro.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro has for years questioned the integrity of Brazil’s electronic voting system without providing evidence. He is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted over an attempted coup. His son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, has recently echoed some of those concerns, although he did not repeat the allegations on Saturday when his Liberal Party formally confirmed him as its presidential candidate in São Paulo.