US delays visas for Brazilian officials ahead of UN General Assembly

Brazilian officials are facing delays in receiving visas to attend next week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, the country’s foreign ministry confirmed on Monday.

Marcelo Marotta Viegas, a spokesperson for Brazil’s foreign ministry, told reporters that the US government has informed Brazil that visa applications are still being processed.

“We have received information from the US government that the visas have not yet been granted. They are being processed,” Viegas said, adding that outright refusal to issue the visas would constitute a “legal violation” under international norms.

The delays come amid heightened tensions following the conviction of Brazil’s far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro was sentenced last week to 27 years in prison for his involvement in a failed coup attempt. The verdict has angered his ally, US President Donald Trump, who has already imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressed concern over the visa delays. “It’s concerning,” he said, underlining the potential impact on Brazil’s participation in the global assembly.

The diplomatic friction extends beyond visas. Washington has reportedly revoked the travel privileges of several Brazilian Supreme Court judges and a government minister. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that further measures could be taken in response to Bolsonaro’s conviction.

“We’ll have some announcements in the next week or so about what additional steps we intend to take,” Rubio said during an interview with Fox News from Jerusalem.