US revokes Brazilian ambassador’s visa, official says, as diplomatic tensions deepen

The US has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington, according to a state department official, marking another escalation in US-Brazil diplomatic tensions ahead of Brazil’s elections.

It comes after the Brazilian government refused to grant visas for two US state department officials who wanted to visit Brazil at the end of July.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused the officials of wanting to “meddle” in Brazil’s elections, which the US called “baseless.”

The US official said the decision to revoke the visa does not mean Brazil’s ambassador is being expelled from the US.

The BBC has asked the Brazilian government, Brazilian embassy, and State Department for comment.

It is the latest in a series of disputes between the US and Brazilian government, which have flared up in recent months after the US reimposed tariffs on Brazil and designated Brazilian gangs as terrorist organisations.

Two state department officials were due in Brazil in late July for what they said was a visit regarding freedom of expression and religion, and election integrity.

They were also expected to meet the right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, son of the former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro. The elder Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after losing the last election.

A few weeks ago, Flávio, who has received endorsements from Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told a room of diplomats that Brazil’s machines have the same origin as Venezuela’s, and cited a CIA report about electoral fraud in that country.

Flávio Bolsonaro later denied he was questioning the integrity of the electoral system, saying he instead wanted as many international observers as possible.

But following the meeting, the Brazilian government blocked visas for a US delegation citing concerns they would try to cast unfounded doubts on the election.

That included two senior state department officials, who have been identified as Riley M Barnes, an assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labour, and Samuel Samson, a deputy assistant secretary in the same section.

Flávio Bolsonaro’s claims about the country’s electronic voting machines have been refuted by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court. Brazil has its own system which has been praised by experts as one of the most secure in the world.

The Brazilian government has also withheld approval for Donald Trump’s pick to be the next US ambassador to Brazil.

Trump nominated Daniel Perez, a state representative from Florida, who is a close ally of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on 1 June without seeking Brazil’s approval beforehand – a common diplomatic step. Brasilia felt disrespected by this.

President Lula has been critical publicly of the state department under Rubio and its increasing intervention in Latin American politics, including endorsing conservative candidates in some elections.