Brasília, Brazil - The Brazilian government has refused visas to two senior United States State Department officials amid concerns they intended to interfere in the country's upcoming presidential election campaign.
According to Brazilian authorities, the officials were expected to travel to Brasília ahead of the official election campaign period. However, officials reportedly believed the visit could have been used to question the credibility of Brazil's electronic voting system and spread misleading information about the country's electoral process.
Brazil's Foreign Ministry confirmed that visa applications submitted by US State Department representatives Riley M. Barnes and Samuel Samson had been rejected.
Reports suggest Brazilian officials were concerned the proposed visit could have coincided with political efforts by allies of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose supporters have repeatedly criticised Brazil's electronic voting system.
This latest development comes as diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States remain strained. Tensions have increased over trade disputes and wider political disagreements, with both governments exchanging criticism over the past year.
The controversy has also emerged during the early stages of Brazil's presidential election campaign.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and a leading conservative candidate, has again raised concerns about Brazil's electronic voting machines. Brazil's electoral authorities have rejected those claims, maintaining that the country's voting system remains secure and reliable.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro previously made similar allegations before the 2022 presidential election without presenting evidence accepted by Brazil's courts. He is currently serving a prison sentence after being convicted over offences linked to an attempted coup following his election defeat, although he continues to deny wrongdoing.
The visa dispute also comes as Argentina's President Javier Milei travelled to Brazil to publicly support Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign, highlighting growing co-operation between conservative political figures across Latin America.
Meanwhile, opinion polling published this week suggests incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva currently holds a narrow lead over Flávio Bolsonaro ahead of October's presidential election.
The United States State Department had not publicly responded to reports regarding the visa refusals at the time of writing.
This article is based on reporting by the Financial Times and other publicly available information. LTT Media has not independently verified all claims made by the parties involved.