Blockade of tankers and allegations of terrorism. Brazil and Mexico want to avoid “fratricidal war”

The presidents of Brazil – Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Mexico – Claudia Sheinbaum, declared on Thursday, independently of each other, that they were ready to mediate in the escalating dispute between the United States and Venezuela.

Lula said he was “very concerned” about the growing tension between Washington and Caracas and was ready to act as a mediator to reach a “peaceful solution” and “avoid an armed conflict in Latin America.” He added that he was “at the disposal of both countries” and would probably talk to US President Donald Trump before Christmas to avoid a “fratricidal war.”

Shortly thereafter, Sheinbaum made a similar offer. During the press conference, she stated that “together with all countries in Latin America or on other continents that wish to do so, we will seek a peaceful solution” and try to avoid American “intervention” in Venezuela. She stressed that she did not believe that her initiative would harm relations with the United States, which is Mexico's largest trading partner.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump announced a blockade of sanctioned tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan ports and declared that Nicolas Maduro's regime in Venezuela is a “foreign terrorist organization.” This is another manifestation of the deteriorating relations between the two countries.

The US accuses Maduro of running a drug cartel and, for several weeks now, they have been attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea which – according to US services – transport drugs to the US. Maduro denies the allegations and says the Trump administration is looking for an excuse to overthrow him by force. (PAP)

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