Key Facts
- Visa revoked
- US revoked visa of Brazil's ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti
- Reason
- Retaliation for Brazil's denial of visas to two US diplomats and stalling on US ambassadorial nominee
- US nominee
- Danny Perez, former Florida House speaker
- Election date
- October 4 polls in Brazil
- Tariff hike
- Up to 37.5% on thousands of Brazilian exports
- Terrorist designation
- First Command Capital and Red Command classified as foreign terrorist organizations
Background
The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to the United States, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, in a reciprocal response to Brazil's actions. The State Department said the decision was delayed several times to give Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva room to back down, which he did not do.
The revocation stems from Brazil's denial of visas last month for two American diplomats who planned to visit the country ahead of the October elections, as well as Brazil's stalling on approving President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador in Brasilia. The State Department official said the step could be quickly reversed if Brazil takes appropriate action and accepts Trump's ambassadorial choice.
Current Situation
Despite the revocation of her visa, Ambassador Viotti is not being expelled from the United States, according to a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity. She could be allowed to resume her official duties if the Brazilian government accepts Trump's choice of former Florida House speaker Danny Perez to be U.S. ambassador to Brazil.
The official said indications are that Brazil will not accept Perez until after the October election. Brazil denied visas last month for Riley Barnes, the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, and one of his top aides, after reports emerged that the pair were going to criticize Lula or the election process. The State Department denied the allegations and said the visit was routine, calling any insinuation of a 'ploy' a 'baseless lie.'
| Dispute | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa revocation | US revoked visa of Brazil's ambassador |
| Visa denial | Brazil denied visas to two US diplomats |
| Ambassadorial nominee | Brazil stalling on Danny Perez |
| Tariff hike | Up to 37.5% on Brazilian exports |
| Terrorist designation | Two Brazilian drug-trafficking groups listed as FTOs |
Impacts
The visa revocation adds to a series of disputes between the two countries. The Trump administration has also imposed an up to 37.5% tariff hike on thousands of Brazilian exports, which came into force Friday. The U.S. government claims Brazil has unfair competition practices and fails to stop forced labor practices, accusations rejected by the Lula administration as an attempt to sway the election.
The administration has also classified Brazil's biggest drug-trafficking groups — First Command Capital and Red Command — as foreign terrorist organizations, a move Lula opposes. These actions come as Lula faces Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro in the Oct. 4 polls. Sen. Bolsonaro, whose father Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for an attempted coup, has ties with the Trump administration and has recently repeated some of his father's unsubstantiated claims about the electronic voting system.
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If Brazil accepts Trump's ambassadorial choice, the visa revocation could be quickly reversed, allowing Ambassador Viotti to resume her duties. However, indications suggest Brazil will not act until after the October election, so the diplomatic standoff may continue in the interim.
The situation could escalate further if Brazil responds with its own reciprocal measures, or it could de-escalate if both sides seek compromise. The outcome may also be influenced by the election results, as a victory for Sen. Bolsonaro could align Brazil more closely with the Trump administration's policies, while a Lula victory might prolong tensions.
Source: dailylocal.com
