Brazil’s intelligence agency told European officials last month that both the United States and Russia were interfering in the country’s presidential election, according to sources and documents reviewed by Reuters. The first round of voting takes place on Sunday 4 October.

The agency, Abin, briefed a joint French-German delegation in Brasília between 9 and 11 September. According to Reuters, Abin had already raised its assessment of the risk of US pressure on the election to a “critical level” in a confidential report sent in late August to the presidential palace, the Ministry of Justice and the Superior Electoral Court.

Cyber attacks nearly double

Brazilian officials also reported that cyber attacks against the country had nearly doubled year on year, with a concentrated surge in hacking and phishing attempts against the presidential office. A senior Brazilian cyber official described that activity as clearly “election-related”.

Abin’s account of Russian activity, as reported, offered no specific details. The claims about both countries come from Brazilian intelligence assessments that have not been published.

A regulatory visit with a second purpose

The European visit was officially about how Brazil applies ideas similar to the EU’s Digital Services Act, which requires online platforms to police illegal and harmful content more aggressively. Washington has criticised that law as an unfair burden on American technology companies.

A document seen by Reuters shows the trip also aimed at “preparing coordinated responses ahead of the 2026 elections”. The French delegation included Viginum, the government body that tracks foreign digital disinformation, and Arcom, the media regulator. Germany sent officials from its Federal Network Agency, which said possible US meddling in German elections was not discussed. Arcom and Viginum confirmed their participation.

French officials privately described Brazil’s election to Reuters as an early warning for France’s own presidential vote next year.

That concern reflects wider European anxiety. In France, far-right leader Marine Le Pen leads presidential polls, and in Germany officials have publicly criticised Washington’s endorsement of the Alternative for Germany party, which finished first in two state elections last month.

Strained relations with Washington

The accusations come amid sharply worse relations between Brasília and Washington. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, seeking a fourth term, has accused the Trump administration of trying to tilt the race towards his opponent.

He has pointed to 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods announced in July 2025, which President Donald Trump linked to the prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro, and to the revocation in August 2026 of the Brazilian ambassador’s visa in Washington, which the US tied to a dispute over its own ambassadorial nominee. Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after the Supreme Court convicted him of leading a plot to stay in power.

Washington has argued its measures respond to what it describes as political persecution of Bolsonaro and threats to free speech, rather than any attempt to influence voters. Russia routinely denies interfering in foreign elections.

Embassies close before the vote

The intelligence claims emerged as the United States and Australia temporarily suspended diplomatic operations in Brazil ahead of the vote, citing security concerns. Brazilian police had not publicly corroborated a specific threat at that stage.

What voters should watch

Interference claims are hard to test before ballots are cast, and both foreign governments reject the characterisation. What is clear is that Brazil’s security establishment regards the election as a target, and that European governments are watching closely for lessons that could apply to their own campaigns.

Around 155 million Brazilians are eligible to vote. If no candidate wins more than half of valid votes on Sunday, the two leading contenders will meet in a run-off later in October. Whatever the outcome, questions about who tried to shape it are likely to outlast the count.