The Venezuelan opponent Henrique Capriles supported this Wednesday the offer of mediation by the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, between Venezuela and the United States. This support occurs in a context of growing tension after the US military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, an action that Caracas describes as a threat.
In a broadcast on
Faced with the crisis, the opponent advocated for a negotiated solution, holding those in power responsible. He harshly criticized the call from the government of Nicolás Maduro for citizens to take up arms in defense of the territory: “Why do the Venezuelan people have to go out and take up arms to defend who, (President Nicolás) Maduro? The government? We Venezuelans want peace and we want a solution, but whoever is in power is obliged to seek that solution, they have to sit down to negotiate.”
Lula’s offer dates back to October, when the Brazilian president expressed his willingness to help “if the United States needs Brazil’s support to address the problem of Venezuela,” with the aim of maintaining “peace in South America.” The proposal was made public by the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, after a meeting between Lula and US President Donald Trump.
The position of Caracas and Washington
The Maduro government has denounced that the American military presence It is actually a plan to force a “regime change” and install a “puppet” government that allows the United States to take over the country’s natural resources, especially oil. Washington justifies the deployment as part of its fight against drug trafficking, a campaign in which its Army claims to have sunk 17 vessels and caused the death of at least 66 people in Caribbean and Pacific waters.
