Key facts
- The US suspended consular services in Brazil on Friday, October 2.
- The State Department cited unspecified security concerns for the suspension.
- The suspension comes ahead of Brazil's presidential election on Sunday.
- US citizens needing emergency assistance were advised not to go to diplomatic facilities.
The United States suspended consular services at its embassy and consulates in Brazil on Friday, October 2, citing unspecified security concerns ahead of the country's presidential election on Sunday. The State Department did not elaborate on the security issues or link them directly to the election.
In a statement released Thursday, the department said, "Consular Services in the US Embassy and Consulates in Brazil will be suspended starting Friday, October 2 due to security concerns." It further advised, "US citizens seeking emergency assistance during this time should not come to the Embassy, the Consulates, or other US diplomatic facilities."
There was no information provided on when the consular services would resume. Brazilians are set to vote for president on Sunday in a race that will determine whether the nation follows a conservative shift or charts its own course. Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has previously warned of foreign interference in the election, including potential new tariffs from Washington. Violent crime has also been a dominant concern for voters, leading candidates to pledge enhanced security measures.