Brazil’s foreign ministry summoned the acting US charge d’affaires, Gabriel Escobar, following the US embassy’s posting of a provocative message on the current trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The message attacked Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is handling Bolsonaro’s case involving a claimed coup attempt.
The embassy’s message accused Moraes of being the “chief architect” of persecution and censorship against Bolsonaro and his allies. It cited human rights abuses by Moraes that resulted in sanctions under the US Magnitsky Act, applied during the presidency of Donald Trump. The post also cautioned Moraes’s supporters not to endorse his activities, indicating that the US was watching closely. The message was a repost of translated words from Darren Beattie, the US senior public diplomacy official.
Brazil Condemns Interference, Summons US Diplomat
The Brazilian government considered the embassy’s tweet as a clear threat against the Supreme Court justices presiding over Bolsonaro’s trial and deemed it to be an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of the country. This is the third time Escobar has been called for questioning since Trump openly defended Bolsonaro, including when Trump defended imposing high tariffs on Brazilian imports citing Bolsonaro’s prosecution.
Brazil’s temporary secretary for Europe and North America, Flavio Goldman, conveyed the nation’s “profound indignation” at what it described as aggressive messages from the US embassy and State Department. Brazil views these acts as an effort to intimidate its courts and interfere with its internal politics.
The US embassy had no comment on the summons.
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Tariffs and Diplomacy Causing Ongoing Strain
The tensions follow a series of persistent economic disputes. Escobar held talks with Brazil’s Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, who is spearheading the efforts to ease trade tensions and roll back the imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods. Brazil has been said to be trying to initiate negotiations with the US since April but indicates it has yet to get a response.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recently complained, stating that he was willing to talk only if he detects Trump’s desire to negotiate. Lula also stated that he won’t “humiliate” himself by pursuing talks if the interest is not reciprocal.
The diplomatic standoff is a reflection of wider tensions in US-Brazil relations, fueled by diverging political loyalties and trade frictions, with no short-term solution in the offing.
