Brazil has yet to grant formal diplomatic approval for President Donald Trump's nominee, Daniel Perez, for US ambassador, a delay that has heightened tensions between the two countries ahead of Brazil's October election, Reuters reports, according to sources familiar with the matter.


Perez, a Florida state representative and close ally of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was nominated by Trump on June 1.


The sources said the nomination was announced before Washington sought Brazil's formal approval—known in diplomatic practice as agrément—a step Brazilian officials viewed as a breach of protocol.


Perez's nomination has already cleared a Senate committee and is awaiting a full Senate confirmation vote. However, he cannot take up the post until Brazil grants its approval.


According to Reuters, some Trump administration officials have become increasingly frustrated by what they see as Brazil's deliberate delay. One source said the administration could consider punitive measures against Brazil if the matter remains unresolved.


Relations between the administration of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the U.S. State Department have remained strained, with Brasília accusing Washington of attempting to influence Latin American politics in favour of conservative forces. The Trump administration, in turn, has accused Brazil of restricting conservative voices and allowing political bias in judicial proceedings.


Responding to questions about the delay, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said:


"President Trump has the right to determine who represents the American people and interests around the world. President Trump is assembling an America First diplomatic A-team across his administration, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. We reject any effort by foreign countries to interfere in our domestic processes."


Brazilian officials said Perez's nomination is undergoing a routine review and indicated that formal approval is unlikely before the country's presidential election on October 4.


"We are not saying we won't give the agrément, but there is no deadline," one Brazilian official said. "It is up to the host country to decide when the appropriate time is."


Brazil's Foreign Ministry declined to comment, citing the confidentiality requirements of the Vienna Convention.


The ambassadorial dispute comes amid broader tensions between the two countries.


Earlier this year, the U.S. designated two Brazilian organised crime groups as terrorist organisations despite objections from Brasília. Washington also imposed a 25% tariff on several Brazilian products, later adding a further 12.5% levy over concerns related to forced labour.


Last week, Reuters reported that Brazil denied visas to two Trump administration officials whom President Lula later accused of intending to "meddle in Brazil's election." The U.S. State Department rejected that allegation.


"Trump sometimes seems to want to pick a fight with me. I don't want a fight with him ... I'm not stupid," Lula said. "I want to defeat them in the battle of narratives."


The diplomatic dispute comes ahead of Brazil's October election, in which Lula is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term. His main challenger, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro—the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro—has sought to portray Trump as a key international ally.


During his Senate confirmation hearing this month, Perez said that, if confirmed, one of his top priorities would be supporting free and fair elections in Brazil while strengthening bilateral trade and security cooperation.


"We do have a trade surplus with Brazil,” Perez said, referring to the energy and agriculture sectors. “Nevertheless, there are some industries that have a significant gap."


By Bakhtiyar Abbasov