The United States has temporarily revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador in Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, in an escalation of a widening diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
An anonymous State Department official said the cancellation was a response to Brazil withholding formal approval for Daniel Perez, a Florida state representative and ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as Trump's nominee for ambassador to Brasília. Brazil also denied visas to officials from the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. The visa could be swiftly reinstated if Brazil resolves the impasse.
Brazil's government repudiated the decision, calling the US allegations false and accusing Washington of violating the Vienna Convention by publicly disclosing its nominee's identity. Brasília also noted that Brazilian officials remain under Magnitsky Act sanctions that President Lula requested be lifted during a May visit to Washington. The dispute unfolds as Brazil prepares for an October presidential election pitting Lula against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.