Brasília, Brazil – Two days before the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, the U.S. government suspended consular services at its embassy and consulates across the country, citing “security concerns” without publicly detailing the reasons behind its decision. Australia subsequently announced the closure of its embassy in Brasília and advised its citizens to avoid U.S. diplomatic facilities.
The embassy closures have taken on added significance following reports that Brazil’s Federal Police and Intelligence Agency (ABIN) circulated alerts within the federal intelligence system warning that the U.S. measures could form part of a “psychological operation” connected to preparations for an attempted rupture of democratic order. According to reporting by Revista Fórum, the agencies alerted members of the Sistema Brasileiro de Inteligência (SISBIN) following the U.S. decision, raising the possibility that the embassy shutdown could be linked to efforts to create conditions for political destabilization or a coup attempt.
The reports come amid already heightened concerns within Brazil over external pressure on the country’s electoral process. In September, ABIN shared a report with the federal government and electoral authorities classifying the risk of U.S. influence and intervention in the elections as “critical,” and pointing to an escalation of U.S. pressure on Brazil linked to competition over strategic assets, natural resources, and infrastructure.
The concerns also come against the backdrop of increasingly close ties between Donald Trump and Flávio Bolsonaro, President Lula’s principal rival, unfolding as Washington seeks to reduce U.S. dependence on China for critical minerals and rare earth elements. Speaking in the U.S. in March, Bolsonaro claimed that Brazil could provide an alternative to U.S. dependence on China in this sector. In May, Trump received him in the Oval Office, where they discussed critical minerals among other issues. He later said that, if elected, he intends to establish a long-term strategic partnership with Washington in this area.
“Foreign governments, particularly the Trump administration, taking exceptional measures only two days before Brazil’s elections require immediate transparency, especially as Brazilian intelligence and federal police are reportedly warning that the measures could be connected to preparations for an attempted rupture of democratic order,” said Christian Poirier, Program Director at Amazon Watch. “International competition over Brazil’s strategic resources is intensifying. The Amazon rainforest, its minerals, and its Indigenous lands cannot become bargaining chips in geopolitical disputes. Regardless of the election outcome, decisions involving mining, oil, and infrastructure must respect Brazil’s sovereignty, environmental laws, and the rights of Indigenous peoples and traditional communities.”
