US and Australia suspend consular services in Brazil over security concerns

The United States will suspend consular services at its embassy and consulates in Brazil on Friday because of security concerns, the State Department said, according to the Associated Press. The department did not identify the nature of the concerns. It also did not connect the decision to Brazil’s presidential election, which is scheduled for Sunday in the supplied material.

Australia’s embassy in Brasilia said it would also close on Friday. It cited the US alert and advised Australians to avoid US diplomatic missions in Brazil. The State Department said it was working closely with Brazilian counterparts to address the security concerns.

The material does not say how long the suspension will last or which services will be affected beyond Friday’s closure. The announcement came during a tense period in US-Brazil relations. Brazilians are due to vote in an election described in the source as a likely first round featuring left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The source says surveys showed the contest as a statistical tie. If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff could take place on October 25, with the result expected to shape Brazil’s foreign policy. Lula and his allies have warned about foreign interference, while US Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the administration’s approach to Brazil.

The supplied material does not establish any connection between those political disputes and the consular closures.