President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) published an opinion article in the American newspaper The New York Times this Sunday (18), in which he addresses and criticizes the United States attack on Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and left around 100 people dead — according to estimates by Venezuelan authorities.
According to the PT member, the American offensive, carried out on January 3, represents “another regrettable chapter in the continuous erosion of international law and the multilateral order established after the Second World War.”
“When the use of force to resolve disputes ceases to be the exception and becomes the rule, global peace, security and stability are threatened,” commented the president.
Lula stated that norms cannot be followed “selectively”, as this weakens States and the international system as a whole. Thus, it would be impossible to build free, inclusive and democratic societies.
Still in the article, the president of Brazil stated that “it is not legitimate for another State to claim the right to do justice” and that unilateral actions threaten global stability.
Furthermore, he considered that actions such as those of the US in Venezuela disrupt trade and investment, increase the flow of refugees and further weaken the ability of States to confront organized crime and other transnational challenges.
Soon after the attack by American Forces, Lula had already said that the operation was a very serious affront to sovereignty,
At the time, he also highlighted that the action “recalls the worst moments of interference in politics in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
In the publication in the NYT this Sunday, the president adopted a similar tone, pointing out that “in more than 200 years of independent history, this is the first time that South America has suffered a direct military attack from the United States, although American forces have already intervened in the region previously.”
Lula defends dialogue and joint work with the USA
Two days after the operation in Venezuela, the American government published
In this Sunday’s article, Lula adopted the opposite path, highlighting that the region belongs to “everyone”, but still defended “constructive dialogue” with the USA and joint work with Donald Trump’s government.
“Only together can we overcome the challenges that afflict a hemisphere that belongs to all of us”, he commented.
Lula calls for unity and denies submission to “hegemonic efforts”
Elsewhere in the text, Lula highlighted that Latin America and the Caribbean have interests and “dreams to defend”, adding: “We will not submit to hegemonic efforts. Building a prosperous, peaceful and pluralistic region is the only doctrine that suits us.”
He defended that the nations of the region fight for a positive agenda that overcomes ideological differences to combat hunger, poverty, drug trafficking and climate change.
“History demonstrates that the use of force will never bring us closer to these objectives. The division of the world into zones of influence and neocolonial incursions for strategic resources are outdated and harmful”, he considered.
“It is crucial that the leaders of the great powers understand that a world of permanent hostility is not viable. However strong these powers are, they cannot simply be based on fear and coercion,” he added.
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