According to Reuters, a senior U.S. State Department official stated on August 4 local time that the United States had revoked the visa of the Brazilian ambassador to the U.S., due to Brazil's delayed approval of the U.S. nomination for the position and its refusal to issue visas to several U.S. diplomats.
The official stated that this measure does not mean that the Brazilian ambassador to the United States will be expelled from the country. If the nominee for the position of Brazilian ambassador to the United States is approved, the visa of the Brazilian ambassador to the United States will also be restored.
On July 25, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had denied visas to Riley Barnes, the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor affairs in the United States, and Samuel Samson, the assistant secretary of state. Later, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula stated that Brazil believed the American officials' visit was intended to interfere in Brazil's presidential elections.
Meanwhile, Brazil has been delaying the approval of Daniel Perez, nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump, as the U.S. ambassador to Brazil. Perez is a representative from Florida and a close ally of U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo. He was nominated by the U.S. side on June 1.
Rogue News last week quoted sources as saying that if the Brazilian government continues to refuse to grant the diplomatic approval required for the new U.S. ambassador to take up their post, Washington may take 'punitive measures'.
The US withdrawal of the Brazilian ambassador's visa reflects the growing conflict between the Trump administration and the Lula government.
In October this year, Brazil will hold presidential elections. The current president, Lula, will compete with Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro. Flavio Bolsonaro is a ally of Trump. His father, the former Brazilian president Bolsonaro, was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months by the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court for planning a coup.
Last month, Trump imposed high tariffs on a range of Brazilian goods. Lula pointed out that the US tariffs were a political move, aimed at helping Flavio Bolsonaro.
