Trump admin revokes visa of Brazilian ambassador to US

Washington and Brasilia Deepen Diplomatic Tensions

Qwenews.com – The United States has withdrawn the visa of Brazil’s top diplomat in Washington, intensifying friction between the two nations. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, who serves as Brazil’s ambassador, lost her travel authorization without being formally declared persona non-grata. A senior official within the State Department clarified that removing her visa does not equate to expelling her from American soil.

According to sources familiar with the matter, this move represents a reciprocal response to Brazil’s hesitation in providing agrément—the formal diplomatic approval—regarding Daniel Perez, America’s candidate for ambassador to Brazil. The official explained that this visa cancellation happens alongside multiple other diplomatic disagreements emerging over the past twelve months. Among these issues is Brazil’s refusal to issue visas to certain American officials.

Conditions for Restoration

Viotti’s visa would be reinstated immediately should Brazil grant agrément to Perez. However, uncertainty remains about how this development impacts her official status as ambassador. Another State Department source indicated that if Viotti departs the United States, she must submit a new visa application upon return.

The Brazilian government responded strongly on Tuesday, stating it “repudiates the decision announced today by the US Department of State to alter the visa of Brazil’s Ambassador in Washington.” Officials in Brasilia added that “both justifications offered for the decision are false.” A presidential statement characterized the action as part of “a deliberate escalation of hostile measures against Brazil, driven by ideological motives that are incompatible with a bilateral partnership that has always been guided by mutual respect.”

Election Timing and Reciprocal Actions

This diplomatic row arrives before Brazil’s October elections, where President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will compete against Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. The younger Bolsonaro previously met with Trump administration members, including President Donald Trump, earlier this year.

Lula revealed last month that Brazil declined to grant visas to two State Department officials due to worries about interference in the electoral process. The Brazilian presidency echoed these concerns, asserting that the American officials “had planned to visit the country to cast doubt on the integrity of Brazil’s electoral system.” Conversely, one senior State Department official described the planned visit as “a routine trip,” adding, “We respect the Brazilian people in whatever government that they choose freely through free and fair elections in Brazil.”

The official did not exclude additional reciprocal measures but emphasized that the current situation centers on Perez, whom they described as “a well-qualified ambassadorial nominee.” They argued that Brazil “owes us a prompt and positive answer to our request for agrément.” According to this source, Brazil has “put out signals” suggesting approval may come only after elections conclude, potentially blocking Perez from assuming his role even if confirmed by the Senate.

Perez’s Nomination Journey

The second State Department official stated they have “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.” They stressed, “We reject any effort by foreign countries to interfere in our domestic processes.”

Perez’s nomination reached the Senate on June 1 and passed through the Foreign Relations Committee in late July. As speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, he maintains close ties with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Normally, agrément is requested before announcing a nominee, though it remains uncertain whether this protocol was followed for Perez.

Brazilian authorities claimed on Tuesday that the United States “publicly announced the name of its nominee before formally submitting its request for agrément.” They pointed out that there is “no time limit for granting agrément” and noted the American request “remains under review.” This story has been updated with additional details.