WASHINGTON: The US-Brazil visa dispute deepened on August 4 after Washington revoked Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti’s visa.
Viotti represents the South American nation in Washington. The State Department called the move reciprocal, according to the Associated Press.
It cited Brazil’s visa denials and delayed consent for US ambassador nominee Daniel Perez. Brazil denied visas in July to Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes and Deputy Assistant Secretary Samuel Samson.
They planned a July 27–30 visit to Brasília, Brazil’s capital, for talks on elections, religion and free speech. Brazil accused them of planning to cast doubt on its voting system before the October 4 election.
The State Department called that claim baseless and described their planned visit as routine. US officials accused Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government of delaying its consent.
US President Donald Trump nominated Perez. The White House submitted his nomination to the Senate on June 1. A Senate panel advanced the nomination on July 22, but Brasília has not granted approval.
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AP said Brazil had signalled no decision before the election’s first round on October 4. Brazil said Washington publicised Perez before seeking the private consent required by the Vienna Convention.
US officials said they could quickly restore Viotti’s visa if Brazil accepted Perez. The revocation does not expel her from the United States. If Viotti leaves, she must apply for a new visa before returning, the State Department said.
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Lula’s office called the US action politically driven and aimed at influencing the election. It described the decision as part of an ideological escalation against Brazil.
