Brazil govt condemns visa action on envoy

RIO DE JANEIRO — The Brazilian government on Tuesday strongly condemned the US State Department's decision to alter the visa status of Brazil's ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, calling the reasons cited by the United States "false".

The US government revoked the Brazilian ambassador's visa in retaliation for Brazil's refusal last month to issue visas to two US State Department officials and its delay in approving US President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Brazil.

In a statement, the Brazilian government defended its decision to deny entry visas to the two US officials, saying they intended to visit Brazil to question the integrity of the country's electoral system, which it described as an unacceptable attempt to interfere in domestic political affairs.

Regarding Washington's criticism of the approval process for the new US ambassador, Brazil said the United States had publicly announced its nominee before formally requesting approval, which violates Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

"There is no rule in the Vienna Convention stipulating a deadline for granting agreement," the statement said, adding that the US request remains under review.

The statement also noted that unilateral US sanctions against Brazilian officials, including Supreme Court justices and senior government officials whose US visas were revoked over allegations of political persecution, remain in place, highlighting ongoing tensions between the two countries.

The move marks an escalation in the deepening rift between Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, which has upended trade between the countries and emerged as a factor in Brazil's presidential contest.

In another development, Brazil has downgraded relations with Argentina to the charge d'affaires level, Brazilian media said on Tuesday, citing sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The decision followed remarks made by Argentine President Javier Milei against Lula and other Brazilian officials in recent weeks.

Argentina on Tuesday expressed regret. Its Foreign Ministry said, "Argentina takes note of the unilateral decision adopted by the Government of Brazil and regrets its decision to continue isolating itself from the rest of the region for purely ideological reasons."

XINHUA