The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, spoke by phone with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro last week, officials said on Thursday, confirming the call followed a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The contact with Maduro, described as “quick and cordial,” was Lula’s first conversation with the Venezuelan leader in more than a year and covered “peace in Latin America,” according to the same sources.
Lula’s December 2 call with Trump focused on talks aimed at lifting U.S. commercial sanctions imposed on Brazil as retaliation for the trial that jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro. Both leaders called the discussion “very good” and expressed interest in advancing dialogue on U.S. tariffs affecting Brazilian products since August.
The Brazilian presidency added that Lula raised the possibility of expanding cooperation on the fight against narcotics trafficking, a policy the United States uses to justify its expanded military presence in the Caribbean.
Lula has criticised the deployment of U.S. naval forces in international waters near Venezuela and urged that Latin America and the Caribbean remain a zone free of conflict.
Brazil has not recognized the result of last year’s Venezuelan election, in which Maduro was attributed a contested victory, and relations with the Venezuelan president had been virtually frozen until this recent call.
Following the start of U.S. operations in the Caribbean, Lula reiterated that the solution to Venezuela’s crisis should be achieved through dialogue and called for preserving the region as a “region of peace.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics were discussed during Lula’s call with Maduro?
According to officials, the conversation focused on “peace in Latin America,” though the exact details were not disclosed.
What issues did Lula and Trump address in their December 2 conversation?
They discussed negotiations to lift U.S. commercial sanctions on Brazil, expressed a desire to improve dialogue on U.S. tariffs affecting Brazilian products, and considered expanding cooperation on narcotics‑trafficking enforcement.
Why has Brazil not recognized Venezuela’s recent election results?
The Brazilian government has not recognized the outcome, which awarded Maduro a disputed victory, and consequently kept relations with the Venezuelan leader largely frozen until the recent phone call.
How might these diplomatic moves shape the future of regional stability in Latin America?
