Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a forceful warning at the opening of the Mercosur Summit held in Foz do Iguaçu: a United States military intervention in Venezuela would be “a humanitarian catastrophe” and a “dangerous precedent for the world.”
His words refer to the growing concern in South America regarding the escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas, after US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of oil tankers linked to the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Lula’s alarm: sovereignty and historical memory
In his speech, Lula evoked the Falklands War to emphasize that, four decades later, South America once again feels threatened by the military presence of an extra-regional power. “The real threats to our sovereignty today come in the form of war, anti-democratic forces and organized crime,” he stated.
The Brazilian president insisted that the limits of international law are being tested and that armed action in Venezuela would not only unleash a humanitarian crisis in the hemisphere, but would open the door to new forms of intervention in other regions of the world.
His message sought to reinforce the idea that regional integration should be a shield against external pressures, and that Mercosur should prioritize cooperation on issues such as the fight against organized crime and the defense of human rights.
The Brazilian president has offered himself as a mediator between Trump and Maduro, holding telephone conversations with both leaders.
However, its position has generated tensions within Mercosur: Brazil refused to support a resolution proposed by Argentina and Paraguay to condemn human rights violations in Venezuela, which highlighted the bloc’s internal differences.
Mexico: arbitrator willing to avoid war
While Lula warned about the risks of intervention, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s willingness to act as a moderator in the conflict.
From his morning conference at the National Palace, Sheinbaum stressed that his government will always support “avoiding any armed solution” and that Mexican foreign policy is governed by the constitutional principle of non-intervention.
“We do not agree with interventions or complaints and we are in favor of the peaceful solution of conflicts, we do this out of conviction and by constitution,” declared the president to endorse the Estrada doctrine, formulated in 1930 by the then chancellor Genaro Estrada.
This principle establishes that Mexico should not make judgments about the legitimacy of foreign governments, nor officially recognize or disown them. Instead, it limits itself to maintaining or withdrawing diplomatic relations as appropriate, respecting the principle of non-intervention and the self-determination of nations.
Sheinbaum recalled that there are mechanisms established by the UN to resolve international disputes and that Mexico, faithful to its diplomatic tradition, is willing to facilitate dialogue. Although he clarified that he has not received a formal request to mediate, he assured that he maintains communication with both parties through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
