The US State Department has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, in what the Guardian reports is retaliation over stalled diplomatic appointments and visa denials, marking a sharp escalation in a feud with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Key facts
- The US revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to the US, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti.
- The State Department framed the move as retaliation for Brazil's refusal to approve Trump's nominee for ambassador in Brasília, according to the Guardian.
- It also cited Brazil's decision last month to deny visas to two US diplomats seeking to visit ahead of an October election.
- An official indicated the revocation does not mean the ambassador will be expelled from the US, according to Al Jazeera.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States in what the Guardian describes as a sharp escalation of a diplomatic feud with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to the Guardian, the US State Department said the visa of Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti had been cancelled. The move was framed as retaliation for Brazil’s refusal to approve Trump’s nominee for ambassador in Brasília.
The Guardian also reported that the decision came in response to Brazil’s move last month to deny visas to two US diplomats who were seeking to visit ahead of an October election.
Despite the revocation, an official indicated that the measure would not mean Brazil’s ambassador will be expelled from the US, according to Al Jazeera.
The sequence of events points to a tit-for-tat dynamic between Washington and Brasília, with each side taking measures against the other’s diplomatic personnel and appointments. The sources do not detail any further planned responses from either government.
Why it matters
The US and Brazil are two of the largest economies in the Americas, and a deepening diplomatic dispute could complicate cooperation on trade, security and regional affairs. Actions targeting ambassadors and diplomatic staff signal a notable deterioration in relations between the two governments.
Frequently asked questions
Whose visa did the US revoke?
According to the Guardian, the US State Department revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to the US, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti.
Why did the US take this action?
The Guardian reports the State Department framed it as retaliation for Brazil's refusal to approve Trump's nominee for ambassador in Brasília, and for Brazil's decision last month to deny visas to two US diplomats seeking to visit ahead of an October election.
Will the Brazilian ambassador be expelled from the US?
An official indicated the visa revocation would not mean the ambassador will be expelled from the US, according to Al Jazeera.