In an article published this Sunday (18) in the American newspaper The New York Times, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) called the recent military action by the United States in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, on January 3, “regrettable”. For Lula, actions like this reinforce the “continuous erosion of international law and the multilateral order established since the Second World War”.
The Brazilian president used expressions such as “unilateral actions”, “neocolonialist incursions” and policies of “fear” and “coercion” by great powers. The article, entitled “This hemisphere belongs to all of us”, analyzes the impacts of the growth in the use of force on the global stage.
Lula defended Latin America’s “pluralism” and “peaceful history” and stated that “dialogue” is the way to resolve conflicts. Without directly citing the Maduro regime, historically defended by the PT, Lula stated that heads of “any country can be held responsible for attitudes that weaken democracy and fundamental rights”. “No leader has a monopoly on the suffering of his people,” he wrote.
Lula says that sovereignty and future of Venezuela must rest with its people
The president wrote that this responsibility is the sovereign prerogative of each nation. “The future of Venezuela and any other country must remain in the hands of its people,” he stated.
“It is not legitimate for another State to take for itself the right to do justice. When the use of force to resolve disputes stops being the exception and becomes the rule, global peace, security and stability are threatened. Without collectively agreed rules, it is impossible for us to build free, inclusive and democratic societies.”
Lula highlighted the dialogue he maintains with American President Donald Trump. He defended this path as a path to joint solutions to the “challenges that afflict a hemisphere that belongs to all of us”.
“Us [o Brasil e os Estados Unidos] we are the two most populous democracies on the American continent,” he wrote. “We in Brazil are convinced that uniting our efforts around concrete plans for investment, trade and combating organized crime is the way forward.”
PTista reinforces dialogue with Venezuela and highlights support for Venezuelan refugees
The president also reinforced dialogue with Venezuela. He recalled Brazil’s support for the thousands of Venezuelan refugees welcomed by the country.
“Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can give rise to a democratic and sustainable future. This is an essential condition for millions of Venezuelans, many of them temporarily sheltered in Brazil, to return home safely. Brazil continues to work with the government and the Venezuelan population to protect the more than 1,300 miles [2 mil quilômetros] border that we share and deepen our cooperation.”
Lula also cited Latin America’s “peaceful history” and defended the region’s “plurality.”
“In more than 200 years of independence, this is the first time that South America has experienced a direct military attack by the United States, even though American forces have intervened in the region in the past. We will not be subservient to hegemonic endeavors. Building a prosperous, peaceful and plural region is the only doctrine that suits us.”
