U.S. suspends consular services across Brazil citing security concerns

Australia closes Brasilia embassy over security concerns

The United States suspended consular services at its embassy and consulates across Brazil on Friday, citing unspecified security concerns, according to a brief statement from the U.S. diplomatic mission. The State Department has not disclosed the circumstances that prompted the suspension or said when in-person services will resume.

The suspension comes two days before Brazil’s presidential election, scheduled for Sunday, amid heightened political tensions. U.S. officials have not linked the security concerns to the election.

The suspension affects the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia and consulates in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Porto Alegre. Diplomatic personnel were instructed to work remotely. In São Paulo, military police cordoned off the area around the U.S. Consulate, CNN Brasil reported.

The U.S. Mission in Brazil advised Americans who need emergency assistance during the suspension not to visit the embassy, consulates or other U.S. diplomatic facilities until further notice. In a post on the social media platform X, the U.S. Embassy in Brazil said consular services “will be suspended starting today, October 2 due to security concerns.”

The Australian Embassy in Brasilia also closed its facilities Friday, citing “security concerns.” Australian Ambassador Sophie Davies announced the closure on social media and advised citizens needing urgent consular assistance to contact the Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra.

The U.S. announcement comes amid bilateral political tensions. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recently expressed concern about possible interference by Washington in the country’s electoral process.

The suspension also comes amid heightened security concerns in Brasilia. Brazilian news outlets, including G1 and Correio Braziliense, reported that a man tried to climb security barriers near Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Thursday night and left a backpack at a bus stop near the court.

The incident prompted authorities to isolate the area and deploy a bomb squad to inspect the backpack. Military police later ruled out the presence of explosives, and authorities said the backpack contained personal belongings.

Brazilian authorities have not established any connection between the incident near the Supreme Federal Court and the security concerns that prompted the U.S. diplomatic mission to suspend consular services.