A French and German delegation recently visited Brasilia, where they were briefed by Brazilian intelligence officials on alleged interference by the US and Russia in Brazil's upcoming election. According to sources and documents, officials from Abin, Brazil's spy agency, confirmed that there was interference from both countries. The alleged US interference was reported to range from "lawfare to interference that is openly acknowledged."
The visit by the European delegation highlights growing concerns on both sides of the Atlantic about US President Donald Trump's efforts to support candidates aligned with his "Make America Great Again" agenda. This concern is shared by potential targets of US meddling, who are now comparing notes. The first round of Brazil's election is set to take place on Sunday, with leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a tight contest against right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro.
The spectre of US interference to support Flavio Bolsonaro has loomed over the vote, with Lula saying he had warned Trump not to meddle. The US state department did not respond to a request for comment, having previously denied seeking to interfere in Brazil's elections. Abin and Russia's embassy in Brazil also did not respond to requests for comment, with Moscow previously denying interfering in other countries' elections.
The Trump administration's overt support for right-wing candidates worldwide represents a break with longstanding US policies and poses a challenge for incumbent governments over whether such support counts as foreign interference. Washington has openly supported ideologically aligned candidates across Europe and Latin America in recent months.
The US offered a bailout potentially worth $40bn to boost Argentinian President Javier Milei before his difficult midterm elections, while US vice-president JD Vance travelled to Hungary to support former prime minister Viktor Orban in his failed reelection bid. Officials in France, where far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leads in opinion polls, have been vocal about rejecting any US meddling in their domestic affairs.
The French and German officials visited Brazil on September 9-11 as part of an EU delegation to discuss implementation of the bloc's Digital Services Act. The delegation's aims in Brazil also included "preparing co-ordinated responses ahead of the 2026 elections." A senior Brazilian cyber official reported a sharp rise in cyberattacks and hacks, which was clearly "election-related."
The number of cyberattacks in Brazil had nearly doubled compared with 2025, with a sharp rise in hacks and phishing attempts of the president's office.
Key points
- Brazil's spy agency confirmed alleged US and Russian interference in the country's upcoming election.
- The US has openly supported right-wing candidates across Europe and Latin America, posing a challenge for incumbent governments.
- European officials are concerned about potential US meddling in their domestic affairs ahead of upcoming elections.
