President Lula Condemns US Revocation of Brazilian Ambassador's Visa

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday (5/8) criticised the United States’ decision to revoke the visa of Brazil’s Ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, calling the move irresponsible and rash.

Speaking in an interview with the YouTube channel Meteoro Brasil, Lula said the decision was unjustified for two countries that have maintained diplomatic relations for more than two centuries. He also added that Brazil would not accept a new ambassador before the general election scheduled for October.

The US State Department on Tuesday (4/8) announced the visa revocation as a retaliatory measure for Brazil’s refusal last month to issue visas for two US officials, as well as alleged delays in granting approval for Daniel Perez, the US ambassador nominee to Brazil put forward by US President Donald Trump.

In response, Lula stated that Washington itself had shown no urgency regarding its diplomatic presence in Brazil, given that the US Embassy in the country had been left without a head of mission for more than a year and a half.

“Do they expect us to act according to their schedule? That is unfair and unacceptable. We demand to be treated with respect,” Lula said.

The Brazilian government on Tuesday strongly condemned the US State Department’s decision to change the visa status of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington, calling the reasons cited by the US untrue.