US suspends consular services in Brazil before presidential election
The United States has suspended consular services in Brazil, citing security concerns two days before the country’s presidential election. Australia subsequently closed its embassy in Brasilia, while Brazilian police investigated suspected threats but said they found no evidence linking them to criminal organisations.
The United States has suspended consular services in Brazil two days before the country’s presidential election, citing security concerns. The US embassy said services would be suspended from Friday and advised American citizens seeking assistance not to visit its embassy, consulates or other diplomatic facilities. It did not identify the nature of the threat or say whether it was connected to the election.
The US State Department said it was working with Brazilian authorities and that diplomatic missions routinely issue alerts about local threats. Australia’s ambassador to Brazil, Sophie Davies, said the Australian embassy in Brasilia would also close on Friday in response to the US alert. She advised Australians to avoid US diplomatic facilities.
Brazil’s federal police said they had carried out preventive search-and-seizure warrants in Sao Paulo and the Federal District, which includes Brasilia. The operation followed cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies and concerned suspected plans that could threaten US facilities. Police said investigators had found no evidence confirming the initially reported threat and had not identified suspects linked to criminal organisations.
They seized communications equipment and said the investigation was continuing. The closures occurred before Sunday’s presidential election between incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. A runoff will be held on October 25 if neither candidate wins more than half of the vote.
Edinho Silva, president of Lula’s Workers’ Party, called the closures unprecedented and accused US President Donald Trump of trying to influence Brazilian public opinion. Lula’s allies have also criticised US tariffs and proposed discussions about electoral integrity. Trump has publicly praised Flavio Bolsonaro without formally endorsing him.
Brazilian officials have separately briefed European delegations about alleged foreign interference in the election. The diplomatic closures added to political tension without the US publicly disclosing further details of the security concern.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.