US, Australia suspend diplomatic operations in Brazil ahead of elections | Election news
Security threats prompt the United States and Australia to suspend diplomatic operations in Brazil ahead of crucial election day.
Published on October 3, 2026
The United States has suspended consular services in Brazil, prompting Australia to close its embassy in the Brazilian capital two days before Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday.
In a statement released Thursday, the U.S. Embassy announced it would suspend consular services starting Friday and advised U.S. citizens seeking assistance not to travel to its embassy, consulates or other diplomatic facilities.
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The press release mentions security concerns but gives no additional details on the nature of the threat or any link with the elections.
The US State Department said it was working closely with its Brazilian counterparts to respond to security concerns, adding that embassies and consulates regularly issued alerts on local threats and developments.
Australia’s ambassador to Brazil, Sophie Davies, said on social media that the Australian embassy would also close on Friday, citing the US alert, and advised Australians to avoid US diplomatic facilities.
Brazilian federal police said they carried out preemptive searches and seizures in Sao Paulo and the Federal District, the administrative region surrounding the capital Brasilia, as part of an investigation into suspected plans that could threaten U.S. diplomatic facilities.
Police said the operation followed cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies, but investigators found no evidence corroborating the initially reported threat, nor identified suspects linked to criminal organizations.
An investigation continues after the seizure of communications equipment, according to police.
These closures come two days before the Brazilian presidential election, which pits outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, candidate for re-election, against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempted coup.
If none of the candidates wins more than 50 percent of the vote on Sunday, a runoff will take place on October 25.
Edinho Silva, president of Lula’s Workers’ Party, called the closures “unprecedented” and said: “It makes no sense. This is one of Trump’s ways of trying to influence Brazilian public opinion.”
Lula’s allies have pointed to U.S. tariffs and Washington’s efforts to send officials to Brazil to “discuss election integrity” as evidence of foreign interference.
Brazilian intelligence officials this month briefed the French and German delegations in Brasilia about what they described as U.S. and Russian interference in the race.
US President Donald Trump has publicly congratulated Flavio Bolsonaro, a close ally, without formally supporting him, saying he is “watching this election very closely.”
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