Ammon News - The United States has revoked the visa of the Brazilian ambassador in Washington after Brazil withheld formal approval for President Donald ​Trump's nominee as U.S. ambassador and denied visas to two American diplomats, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday.

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 October presidential contest.

Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti's visa will be restored if the situation is resolved, said the official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.
"The action was that the visa of a senior diplomat here was revoked or canceled. That is not the same ​thing as kicking the person out of the country," the official said.

"It means that they are here but without a visa, and would have their visa restored ​if the balance is restored by giving agrément to our chosen ambassadorial nominee," the official added, referring to the diplomatic step of accepting ⁠an ambassador that is usually a formality.

Brazil has for weeks withheld formal approval of Daniel Perez, a Florida state representative and close ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio whom Trump nominated ​as ambassador on June 1.

Brazil's government rejected the U.S. decision in a statement on Tuesday, calling it based on "false" claims and arguing that its consideration of Perez was proceeding in line ​with international diplomatic norms, among them that Washington should have secured Brazil's approval before announcing his nomination.

Reuters reported last week, citing sources, that some Trump officials had grown exasperated over Brasilia's delay. One source said there could be punitive action if Brazil continued to withhold the approval needed for the next U.S. ambassador to take up his post.

Brazil also denied visas last month to two officials from the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, ​Human Rights and Labor.


Reuters