Brazil has lodged formal concerns at the United Nations after the United States delayed visa approvals for key Brazilian ministers due to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. Among those affected was Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, who had not received clearance just a week before the high-level meeting.
The delays come amid growing tensions between Washington and Brasília. The Trump administration recently imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on Brazilian imports, revoked visas for certain officials, and criticized Brazil’s backing of Palestinian statehood. President Donald Trump has also openly attacked President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government following the conviction of former president Jair Bolsonaro by Brazil’s Supreme Court.
Brazilian diplomats argue that withholding or stalling visas violates both U.S. law and the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, which obligates the host country to provide timely entry to official delegations. They warn that such actions risk undermining international forums, effectively silencing voices on global issues such as democracy, climate change, and conflict resolution.
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