US revokes visa of Brazilian ambassador in retaliation

The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington, a State Department official said on Tuesday, in the latest diplomatic row between the two countries.

Washington's decision stems from Brasilia's delay in approving a new US ambassador, according to the US official, who said: "We think the government of Brazil owes us a prompt and positive answer to our request."

But the visa revocation does not mean the Brazilian envoy, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, is being expelled from the United States.

"The visa of a senior diplomat here was revoked or canceled. That is not the same thing as kicking the person out of the country," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The latest spat comes after Brazil denied visas for two US officials who sought to meet with election authorities last month, a Brazilian diplomatic source said, citing the "risk of political exploitation."

A US State Department spokesperson said at the time that the two officials wanted to visit Brasilia to discuss "election integrity, religious freedom and freedom of expression" with government officials, religious leaders and others.

"Any insinuation of a 'ploy' to undermine a democratic nation's election is a baseless lie," the spokesperson said.

Brazil's denial of the visas came after right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro renewed unfounded claims that the country's electronic voting system is insecure, and as US President Donald Trump continues to falsely claim that widespread fraud cost him a 2020 electoral win.

In 2023, Flavio Bolsonaro's father, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, was barred by electoral authorities from running for office after he raised similar claims the year prior, while still in the presidency.

He was later convicted of plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss and is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest.