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The United States has revoked the diplomatic visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, escalating a tense diplomatic standoff ahead of Brazil’s October presidential election.
A US State Department official stated Tuesday that Washington would restore the visa only if Brasilia promptly approves President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Brazil, Florida Republican Daniel Perez.
While the move strips Viotti’s visa privileges, US authorities clarified that they have not declared her persona non grata or ordered her expulsion from the country.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s office swiftly condemned the US action, framing it as a deliberate escalation driven by ideological motives.
The dispute follows Brazil’s recent refusal to grant visas to two US officials seeking to review election integrity, with Brazilian sources citing concerns over political exploitation.
Tensions remain high as Lula faces right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro in the upcoming election, amidst ongoing debates over electronic voting security and lingering fallout from former president Jair Bolsonaro’s 2022 coup plot conviction.
