US revokes Brazil ambassador's visa amid diplomatic row

The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the Trump and Lula administrations. The move by the U.S. Department of State is a direct response to Brazil's delay in formally approving the diplomatic credentials of the U.S. ambassador nominee, Daniel Pérez, and its earlier denial of visas to two other U.S. officials.

A high-ranking State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that Viotti's visa would be reinstated once Brazil grants agrément to Pérez and resolves the issues concerning the other U.S. diplomats. The official clarified that revoking the visa does not equate to expelling Viotti from the country, but she would remain without a visa until diplomatic reciprocity is restored.

This tit-for-tat measure had reportedly been postponed multiple times to allow Lula's government an opportunity to resolve the situation. The nomination of Pérez, a Cuban-American and Republican from Florida, was made by Trump on June 1. The dispute is occurring amidst broader political tensions, particularly Trump's public support for Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who is challenging incumbent President Lula da Silva in the upcoming elections.

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The measure consisted of revoking or canceling the visa of a high-ranking diplomat assigned here. That is not equivalent to expelling the person from the country. It means that they remain here without a visa, but that it would be restored if balance is re-established through the granting of agrément, the diplomatic approval, usually a mere formality, to the ambassadorial candidate we have proposed.