US, Australia Halt Consular Services In Brazil Before Presidential Election, Citing Security Concerns

Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times,

The United States and Australia on Oct. 2 suspended consular services in Brazil, citing security concerns ahead of the country’s high-stakes presidential elections.

The U.S. embassy in Brazil issued an alert advising U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance to contact the appropriate duty officer instead of visiting the embassy or other diplomatic facilities.

The Australian embassy also announced its closure in a notice, advising citizens seeking urgent consular assistance to contact the consular emergency center in Canberra by phone. It also urged people not to visit U.S. diplomatic facilities in Brazil, citing the U.S. embassy’s security alert.

No details were provided about the security concerns that prompted the closures. The State Department said it coordinated with Brazilian officials to address security concerns.

Brazil’s federal police said on Oct. 2 that they conducted a preventive operation in Sao Paulo and the Federal District targeting activity that could threaten U.S. diplomatic facilities, but have not yet identified any suspects linked to criminal organizations.

Police said the investigation stemmed from cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies and is still ongoing following the seizure of communication equipment.

Brazil will hold the first round of its presidential election on Oct. 4, with incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro among the frontrunners. If neither wins more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff vote will take place on Oct. 25.

Bolsonaro is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted of plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss.

Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports, citing the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro. The U.S. government also sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and revoked his visa, along with those of his judicial allies and their family members, over what it called “censorship of protected expression in the United States” and a “witch hunt” targeting Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula has condemned the U.S. moves as interference in the Brazilian justice system.

The U.S. State Department on Aug. 31 placed Brazil under a “Level 2-Exercise increased caution” classification, while some areas of the country are designated as “Level 4-Do not travel,” the most severe of the four advisory levels.

The advisory warns that violent crimes are common in urban regions of Brazil, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking.

“Assaults are common, including with sedatives or drugs placed in drinks, especially in Rio de Janeiro,” it stated. “Criminals target foreigners through dating apps or at bars before drugging and robbing their victims.”

Naveen Athrappully and The Associated Press contributed to this report.