The United States suspended consular services at its embassy and consulates in Brazil on Friday over unspecified security concerns, prompting Australia to close its embassy in Brasília two days before the country's presidential election.
The U.S. State Department did not specify the nature of the security concerns or link them directly to Sunday's vote. It said it was working with Brazilian authorities but did not say when consular services would resume.
Brazil's Federal Police carried out searches in São Paulo and near Brasília on Friday as part of an investigation into alleged threats against U.S. diplomatic facilities.
Police said they had so far found no concrete evidence of a threat and had not identified suspects linked to criminal organisations.
Australia's ambassador to Brazil, Sophie Davies, said the Australian embassy in Brasília would also close on Friday because of security concerns, citing the U.S. alert. She advised Australians to avoid U.S. diplomatic facilities in Brazil.
Brazil's Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
The U.S. announcement comes as Brazil prepares for Sunday's presidential election, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeking another term against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
If no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes, a runoff is scheduled for 25 October.
Relations between Washington and Brasília have become strained during the campaign. Lula and his allies have accused the Trump administration of attempting to influence Brazilian politics, pointing to U.S. tariffs and Washington's efforts to discuss electoral integrity.
The White House has rejected allegations of election interference. U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly praised Flavio Bolsonaro but has not formally endorsed a candidate, according to Reuters.
Edinho Silva, president of Lula's Workers' Party, called the diplomatic closures unprecedented and accused Trump of trying to influence Brazilian public opinion.
Brazilian intelligence officials have also briefed European counterparts on what they described as U.S. and Russian interference in the election, according to Reuters. Washington and Moscow have rejected such allegations.
The closures add to security concerns surrounding an election campaign in which violent crime has been among voters' key concerns.
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European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence, energy cooperation and economic resilience topping the agenda. Azerbaijan’s role in regional peace and connectivity was also in focus.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 11 November. Today, we cover Russia-Ukraine peace talks, political tensions in Washington, strikes in Spain, espionage allegations involving Nvidia's CEO, and climate negotiations at COP31 in Türkiye.
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing disruption to factories, ports, shops and public transport just weeks before a snap general election.
Iran has unveiled a new underground missile and drone base, warning that it will respond forcefully to any attack, as tensions persist with the U.S. and oil tankers continue to be struck by naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence, energy cooperation and economic resilience topping the agenda. Azerbaijan’s role in regional peace and connectivity was also in focus.
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is stepping down amid reports linking him to a woman suspected by U.S. authorities of spying for China, throwing the future of the $4 trillion chipmaker into uncertainty.
Tajikistan is urging regional allies to step up support for its border with Afghanistan following a series of deadly armed incidents. Despite building more than 80 new border outposts, Dushanbe says it needs further assistance to secure its southern frontier.
Eight people have been killed and at least 17 injured after an apartment building collapsed into a neighbouring construction site in Brooklyn, New York, as rescuers continued searching the rubble for possible survivors.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating talks between Russia and Ukraine, but warned that any foreign troops deployed in Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets by Moscow.
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