The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced a new foreign policy directive that imposes visa restrictions on foreign officials involved, according to the American accusation, in actions of alleged “censorship” against U.S. citizens or companies.
“For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their freedom of speech rights,” Rubio stated on Wednesday (28), according to the column by journalist Jamil Chade from UOL. The Republican did not name names, but diplomatic sources indicate that Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) may be one of those affected by the measure.
According to the announcement, “a new visa restriction policy will apply to foreign officials and people who are complicit in censoring Americans. Freedom of expression is essential to the American way of life – an innate right over which foreign governments have no authority.”
According to the report, Rubio was even more direct in highlighting that “foreigners who work to undermine Americans’ rights should not have the privilege of traveling to our country.” “Whether in Latin America, in Europe, or anywhere else, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine Americans’ rights are over,” he added.
In light of the possibility that the measure directly impacts Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the Brazilian government is already coordinating a political response. Although there are no plans for formal retaliations or sanctions, the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) is preparing an institutional statement that should classify any sanction against the STF minister as an “unacceptable interference” in Brazil’s internal affairs.
Moraes has been one of the main targets of criticism from the Brazilian far right and allies of Donald Trump, due to his decisions involving the regulation of social networks, the trial of the attempted coup involving Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and his allies, as well as the fight against disinformation.
Source: www.brasil247.com