Brazilian president warns: Military intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strongly warned against any US-led military intervention in Venezuela, describing such a move as a "humanitarian catastrophe." He made these remarks during his opening address at the Mercosur summit in Foz do Iguaçu, southern Brazil.
Warnings of a repeat of war scenarios
In discussing the dangers facing Latin America, the Brazilian president invoked the region's history, specifically referencing the Falklands War of 1982. Lula stated, "Four decades after the Falklands War, South America is once again threatened by the presence of a foreign military force." This historical connection underscores the sensitivity of Latin American countries to any foreign military presence, with Brazil and its neighbors considering the preservation of the region as a zone of peace a paramount strategic priority.
Lula added, emphasizing the gravity of the situation: "A military intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe for the Southern Hemisphere and a dangerous precedent for the entire world." These statements reflect deep concern that military action would exacerbate the refugee and displacement crisis and destabilize the economic and social fabric of Venezuela's neighboring countries, particularly Brazil and Colombia.
US escalation and operations in the Caribbean
These warnings come in response to statements by US President Donald Trump, who indicated in an interview with NBC that aired on Friday that the option of war against Venezuela remains on the table and has not been ruled out. These verbal threats coincide with actual military movements on the ground, as Washington has been bolstering its military presence in the Caribbean region since last summer.
US forces have launched a series of strikes targeting vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans, ostensibly to combat drug trafficking. These operations have resulted in the deaths of at least 104 people since they began. In a further escalation aimed at crippling the Venezuelan economy, Trump announced earlier this week a "total embargo" on oil tankers subject to US sanctions, regardless of whether those tankers have sailed from or are bound for Venezuela, further complicating the economic situation in Caracas.
An initiative for mediation and peaceful resolution
In an attempt to defuse the crisis and spare the region the horrors of war, the Brazilian president expressed his willingness to play a mediating role to achieve a "peaceful solution" between the United States and Venezuela. Lula affirmed on Thursday that his goal is "to avoid an armed conflict in Latin America," indicating the possibility of direct contact with his American counterpart to open channels for dialogue.
Observers believe that the Brazilian mediation offer stems from the political weight that Brazil enjoys in the Mercosur bloc, and from its awareness that any escalation on the Venezuelan front will have direct security and economic repercussions on neighboring countries, which calls for concerted regional diplomatic efforts to prevent sliding towards military confrontation.
