The United States suspended consular services at its embassy in Brasilia and consulates across Brazil starting Friday, citing security concerns before the country's presidential election.

The State Department announced the move on Thursday and advised U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance to contact a duty officer by phone rather than visit any diplomatic facility. The suspension affects the embassy in the capital and consulates in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Porto Alegre. No timeline was provided for resumption of services.

A State Department spokesperson said the safety and security of Americans remains the top priority and that officials are working with Brazilian counterparts to address the concerns. The announcement did not specify the nature of the threats or link them directly to the election.

Australia followed the U.S. lead by closing its embassy in Brasilia on Friday. Australian Ambassador Sophie Davies cited the American security alert in the decision.

Brazil's federal police conducted preventive search and seizure operations in Sao Paulo and the Federal District on Friday as part of an investigation into suspected plans targeting U.S. diplomatic facilities. Police described the actions as routine cooperation with foreign intelligence and reported no evidence of threats or identified suspects at the time.

The suspension came ahead of Sunday's first-round presidential vote. Incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist seeking re-election, faces a tight race against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a right-wing candidate and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Polls have shown the contest nearly even.

Relations between the Trump administration and Lula's government have been strained in recent months. Lula's allies have pointed to the timing of the closures as an attempt to influence the outcome, though U.S. officials have made no such connection.

The moves highlight ongoing security cooperation between the two nations even amid political differences. Routine alerts for American citizens traveling abroad are common, but the broad suspension of services at multiple sites is less typical.