Brazilian president ready to mediate between US and Venezuela

BRASILIA, Brazil (MNTV) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he is prepared to mediate rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, warning that urgent diplomacy is needed to prevent what he called a “fratricidal war” in Latin America.

Speaking at a news conference at the Planalto Palace, Lula said he had discussed potential paths toward dialogue in recent conversations with both US President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

“I engage in politics seeking solutions to problems,” Lula said. He added that it is “possible to negotiate a way out of war,” while questioning whether Washington’s true motivations have been fully disclosed.

“No one ever says specifically why this war is necessary,” he said. “I don’t know if the interest is Venezuela’s oil, critical minerals, or rare earth elements. The fact is that no one is putting what they want on the table.”

Lula said he stressed to Trump that South America is a “region of peace” and must remain so. He said he is considering a follow-up conversation to explore a diplomatic framework that could prevent military confrontation.

His remarks come amid increased US military activity in the region. Since September, Washington has maintained a strong naval and aerial presence in Caribbean and Pacific waters and has conducted strikes on vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking.

The Trump administration has also intensified pressure by ordering a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports. Lula has become an outspoken critic of the campaign, warning that militarization risks destabilizing the region.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also offered to mediate between the two countries earlier this week, reflecting growing regional concern over potential military escalation.