The U.S. State Department has canceled the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, as reported by a senior official within the department. This action represents an escalation in the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the United States and Brazil.
The official indicated that Viotti’s visa could be promptly restored if Brazil provides diplomatic approval, referred to as agrément, for Daniel Perez, who has been nominated by President Trump to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Brazil. Currently, Brazil has not granted approval for Perez, who is the Republican speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and a close associate of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This delay has hindered his ability to assume the ambassadorial role.
“They have not only postponed their decision but have also signaled that they are likely to continue delaying until after their elections, which are still some time away,” the official stated. He noted that this situation is part of a broader pattern of diplomatic conflicts that have arisen over the past year.
The official expressed that Washington expects a “swift and favorable response” from the Brazilian government regarding the ambassadorial nomination.
In response, the Brazilian government criticized the State Department’s decision, claiming that the reasons provided for the visa revocation are misleading. They contended that the U.S. announced its ambassadorial choice without prior consultation and asserted that the name of a proposed ambassador should only be disclosed after receiving Brazil’s consent.
“This action is not an isolated case. It is part of a systematic escalation of aggressive measures against Brazil, motivated by ideological factors that are not in line with a partnership based on mutual respect,” Brazil’s statement declared.
This visa conflict follows Brazil’s earlier refusal in July to issue visas to two U.S. State Department officials, whom they accused of attempting to meddle in the country’s forthcoming elections in October by challenging the integrity of Brazil’s electoral system. The State Department has dismissed these allegations as unfounded, asserting that the visit by officials from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor was a standard engagement.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is seeking reelection against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year prison term for his involvement in an attempted coup following his defeat in the 2022 elections.
The heightened tensions between the two nations also encompass the imposition of a 25% tariff on Brazilian imports last month, with the U.S. citing what it deems unfair trade practices, including regulations concerning American technology platforms.
Lula condemned these tariffs, rejecting the notion of “unfair trade practices” and asserting that unilateral actions against Brazil lack justification. He pointed out that U.S. government statistics indicate that the U.S. has achieved a trade surplus of $424.5 billion in goods and services with Brazil over the last 15 years.
Before the tariffs were enacted, Lula suggested that the decision was politically motivated and placed blame on the younger Bolsonaro, who had recently traveled to Washington.
Following that trip in May, the Trump administration designated two Brazilian drug trafficking organizations, Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital, as foreign terrorist organizations. Lula harshly criticized this designation, stating at a public event, “We will not accept being treated like children, nor will we allow ourselves to be viewed as a banana republic,” as reported by Reuters. He accused Rubio of characterizing Brazilian criminals as terrorists, implying that this could justify American intervention.
