U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira agreed to meet in the coming weeks following a brief discussion on Friday, according to reports. The announcement came after their exchange on the sidelines of a Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta.
The two diplomats spoke during the G20 gathering, which Rubio chaired, and confirmed plans to reconvene before the G20 leaders’ summit in Miami in December. The meeting follows reported tensions between the U.S. and Brazil over visa issues and political disputes tied to Brazil’s recent election.
Diplomatic outreach after election-related discord
A Brazilian official stated that the countries sought to move past disagreements, including the U.S. decision to grant a visa to Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro after his electoral defeat. The official emphasized that the visa was not politically motivated, saying, “We're clearly not politicizing the issue, as we haven't in other situations regarding Brazilian citizens who have fled to the U.S.”
A U.S. official separately confirmed that the administration had no plans to support Bolsonaro’s political ambitions despite allowing him entry. Flavio Bolsonaro’s father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, remains imprisoned in Brazil for alleged attempts to overturn his 2022 election loss.
G20 meeting concludes with cultural event
The G20 foreign ministers’ meeting concluded on Friday, with several counterparts attending a college football game between Florida and Georgia on Saturday. The event, held in Atlanta due to stadium renovations, drew interest from multiple foreign ministers, though attendance was not confirmed for all participants. The matchup, often called the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” is known for its large crowds and festive atmosphere.
Among those in attendance were foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Britain, Poland, and the Chair of the African Union Executive Council. The gathering followed days of diplomatic discussions, with Rubio hosting counterparts from the world’s 20 largest economies.