Political tensions between Brazil and the United States have escalated after the Brazilian government denied visas to two U.S. officials who planned to visit Brasília ahead of the country’s October presidential election.

Brazilian officials said they rejected the visit because they believed it could be interpreted as an attempt to influence the country’s electoral process. The delegation had planned to meet with electoral authorities and discuss issues including election integrity, religious freedom and freedom of expression.

The U.S. State Department rejected those claims, describing the trip as a routine diplomatic visit and calling suggestions of election interference “baseless.”

The dispute comes as Brazil prepares for a closely watched presidential election on October 4, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeking re-election against Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Relations between the two countries have become increasingly strained in recent months. Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, is currently serving a prison sentence after being convicted over a failed coup plot following Brazil’s 2022 election. Trump has publicly criticized the case, calling it a “witch hunt.”

The latest diplomatic disagreement adds another layer of tension as Brazil heads toward one of its most closely watched elections in recent years.