United States of America

US Revokes Brazilian Ambassador's Visa

Is this a legitimate move or a dangerous diplomatic blackmail?

Published 55 minutes ago

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Above: Maria Luiza Viotti (L) attends the 5th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin on July 14, 2014. Image credit: Adam Berry/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

Brazil brought this strong move on itself after deciding to deny visas to U.S. officials, stonewall a routine ambassador approval and rack up a pattern of diplomatic hostility that left Washington no choice but to respond. Lula just put Brazil in the same position that Hugo Chávez's Venezuela ended up in 2010; that's a dangerous neighborhood to pick voluntarily.

Jason Miller on X

Paulo Figueiredo on X

Anti-Trump narrative

This is an act of extreme hostility with no legitimate justification, that amounts to an expulsion. It's outrageous that Trump administration is using Brazil's professional diplomatic corps as a pressure tool to blackmail the country ahead of its election in October. This is coercion plain and simple, and the U.S. owes the explanation here.

O Globo

Randolfe Rodrigues on X

Cynical narrative

Expect further escalation in U.S.-Brazil relations in the lead-up to the October elections, as both sides hope confrontation serves their aims. Lula bets nationalism and a fight with Trump will boost his chances, while Trump firmly believes that the more pressure, the less likely the leftist leader is to win reelection.

Brian Winter on X

Glenn Greenwald on X