The United States government has formally lifted all sanctions imposed on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his wife Viviane Barci de Moraes, and the Instituto Lex, a legal institute associated with the family. The announcement was released by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which updated the Global Magnitsky sanctions list and reversed the restrictions that had been applied earlier this year.
The sanctions were originally enacted by the Trump administration amid pressure from conservative lawmakers in the United States and from groups aligned with former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. Critics of Moraes accused him of judicial overreach in his handling of sensitive investigations involving Bolsonaro, including inquiries into alleged efforts to undermine Brazil’s democratic order, spread disinformation, and incite unrest following the presidential election.
Under the sanctions, any financial assets belonging to Moraes or his wife within US jurisdiction were frozen, and both were barred from entering the country. The Instituto Lex was also prohibited from conducting transactions through the US financial system. These measures triggered months of diplomatic tension and sparked debates about foreign interference in Brazil’s internal judicial processes.
The revocation of the sanctions represents a significant shift in Washington’s posture and comes shortly after renewed diplomatic engagement between President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Officials familiar with the negotiations noted that the move is part of a broader effort to restore bilateral cooperation, reduce tensions created by politically charged measures, and reaffirm respect for Brazil’s democratic institutions. The decision also coincides with the US government’s announcement of reduced tariffs on certain Brazilian exports, signaling an attempt to reset relations after a turbulent period.
In Brasília, the Lula administration welcomed the removal of sanctions, calling it a diplomatic victory that corrects what they viewed as an unjustified measure taken during a moment of intense polarization. Officials from Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that the sanctions had interfered with the internal functioning of the country’s institutions and had placed unnecessary strain on relations with the United States. Although Justice Alexandre de Moraes has not made a public statement, sources close to the Supreme Court indicated that the reversal was expected and viewed as an important step in restoring normal diplomatic channels.
The reaction among Bolsonaro’s supporters has been sharply negative. Eduardo Bolsonaro, a prominent critic of Moraes and an ally of Trump, publicly criticized the decision, lamenting what he described as a retreat from holding Moraes accountable. Influencers and commentators aligned with Brazil’s far right accused Washington of weakening its stance and abandoning what they saw as a symbolic stand against perceived abuses by the Brazilian judiciary.
Analysts say that the US decision reflects a broader recalibration of Washington’s approach to South America, prioritizing economic cooperation, regional stability, and renewed diplomatic balance over ideological alignment with specific political factions. By lifting the sanctions, the US seeks to avoid deepening internal Brazilian divisions while fostering cooperation in areas such as security, cybercrime prevention, and the fight against organized crime—areas in which both nations depend on mutual trust between judicial institutions.
With the sanctions revoked, Alexandre de Moraes and his wife regain access to all financial assets previously restricted, regain their ability to travel to the United States, and return to normal standing within US jurisdiction. The removal of restrictions also clears the way for smoother collaboration between US and Brazilian law enforcement and legal authorities in future investigations and international operations.
The decision closes one of the most contentious chapters in recent relations between Brazil and the United States, ending months of tension, public debate, and political fallout. At the same time, it opens a new phase characterized by pragmatic cooperation between the Trump and Lula administrations , two leaders with sharp ideological differences but converging strategic interests in the current geopolitical landscape.
