Brazil ‘enormously’ worried about US forces off Venezuela – Lula
Brazil is “enormously worried” about the US military buildup near Venezuela, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said, calling for a solution to be found “before a conflict begins.”
The Pentagon has deployed multiple warships and the largest US aircraft carrier in the Caribbean near the South American nation, and has killed scores of people in controversial attacks on boats it claimed were linked to alleged Venezuelan-led drug trafficking operations. Caracas has denied the accusations.
“I am very concerned about the military deployment that the United States has stationed in the Caribbean Sea,” Lula told reporters at the G20 Summit in South Africa on Sunday, according to Globo News.
“This worries me enormously, and I intend to discuss this with President [Donald] Trump because it concerns me… It is important that we try to find a solution before a conflict begins.”
Washington is poised to begin operations against Venezuela in the coming days, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing anonymous US officials. Clandestine operations would likely kick off the effort, and the overthrow of President Nicolas Maduro is under consideration, the agency cited its sources as saying.
Maduro has consistently denied US allegations of drug-trafficking, arguing that Washington was using the claims as a pretext for a regime-change and resource-grab operation.
Earlier this month, the Venezuelan military was placed on high alert in response to the US buildup, which reportedly involves about 15,000 personnel.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez has condemned the US deployment in the Caribbean.
“We strongly reject maneuvers, exercises, and deployments in our immediate area of interest,” the top general said in a speech on Saturday. “Enough of the threats, lies, slander, and imposition of power, all for the sake of preserving regional hegemonies.”
