For the first time since Barack Obama took office, a year of his presidency is likely to end without him toasting an ally at a glitzy White House state dinner.
One had been scheduled for Oct 23, to showcase US relations with Brazil.
But today, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff postponed her state visit to protest a US spying programme that has targeted her government and her citizens.
It's the only state dinner the White House had announced for 2013.
And, coming so late on the calendar, it's unlikely that another will be scheduled before the year ends. Obama has held six state dinners: for India in 2009, Mexico in 2010, China, Germany and South Korea in 2011, and Britain last year.
