Brazil says US crossed 'unacceptable line' over military strikes on Venezuela

President Lula condemns the U.S. military operation in Venezuela as a breach of sovereignty and warns it sets a dangerous international precedent, while offering Brazil as a mediator.

Reuters

January 3, 2026

A supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holds a flag of Venezuela on an empty street near Miraflores Palace, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. has struck Venezuela and captured President Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday condemned the U.S. military attack on neighbor Venezuela and the capture of his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, calling it the crossing of "an unacceptable line."

"These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela's sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community," Lula said in a post on X.

Lula had previously said that an armed intervention in Venezuela would be a "humanitarian catastrophe", and has offered Brazil to mediate disputes between the countries.

-Fernando Cardoso/Reuters

"These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela's sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community," Lula said in a post on X.

Lula had previously said that an armed intervention in Venezuela would be a "humanitarian catastrophe", and has offered Brazil to mediate disputes between the countries.

-Fernando Cardoso/Reuters