The administration of Donald Trump has moved to revoke the visa of Brazil's ambassador to the US, sources in the State Department told media outlets on Tuesday.
Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti's visa revocation was reportedly in response to the denial of visas to two American diplomats who sought to visit Brazil ahead of upcoming elections.
The US has also accused the Brazilian government of stalling Trump's ambassadorial choice to the South American country.
Brazil rejected Washington's decision, describing it as an escalation and saying it crystalized the US' interest in interfering in the country's upcoming presidential election.
"Today's decision is not an isolated incident. It is part of a deliberate escalation of hostile measures against Brazil, motivated by ideological reasons," the office of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in a statement.
