Deutsche Tageszeitung - Brazil 'very concerned' about US naval build-up near Venezuela

Weather - Berlin 2°C

Brazil 'very concerned' about US naval build-up near Venezuela

POLITICS 23.11.2025

Brazil 'very concerned' about US naval build-up near Venezuela / Photo: © AFP

Brazil is "very concerned" about a US military build-up near Venezuela, fearing a conflict, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Sunday, adding he intended to speak with US counterpart Donald Trump about it.

Change text size:

"I am very concerned about the military apparatus that the United States has placed in the Caribbean Sea. I am very concerned, and I intend to discuss this with President Trump because it worries me," Lula told reporters in Johannesburg after attending a G20 summit.

"I think there is no reason to have a war now," he said. "Let us not repeat the mistake that happened in the war between Russia and Ukraine. That is to say, once a shot is fired, it is hard to predict how it will end."

The United States has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, other navy warships as well as stealth aircraft to the region near Venezuela. On Friday it warned civilian aircraft in Venezuelan airspace to "exercise caution".

US forces have conducted strikes on more than 20 vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific since September, killing more than 80 people. US officials allege they were drug-runners, but provided no evidence.

Washington accuses Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of leading a "terrorist" drug cartel, and Trump has not ruled out sending in US soldiers.

Lula, pointing out that Brazil shares a border with Venezuela, said: "It is important that we try to find a solution before it (a potential conflict) starts."

Trump did not attend the G20 summit in South Africa, boycotting it on the grounds that its priorities -- which include boosting cooperation on global trade and on climate change -- ran counter to US policies.

(W.Budayev--DTZ)

Featured

Iran Warns South Korea Against Naval Expansion Near Strait of Hormuz

Iran has formally warned South Korea against deploying naval forces near the Strait of Hormuz, characterizing Seoul’s plan to extend the mission of its antipiracy unit as a hostile act tied to the conflict between the United States and Iran. The diplomatic dispute arises as South Korea seeks legislative approval to broaden the operational scope of the Cheonghae Unit.

Miss Universe Visa Controversy: Zambia and Congo Winners Denied Entry

The winners of the Miss Universe pageant representing Zambia and the Republic of the Congo have been unable to obtain visas to enter the United States. This development underscores the impact of sweeping travel restrictions imposed by the US government during Donald Trump's second administration, which have affected dozens of countries, particularly those in Africa.

Judge Denies Peltola Campaign’s Request for Alaska Absentee Ballot Data

An Anchorage Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a lawsuit filed by the campaign of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola, which sought detailed data on rejected absentee ballots from the Alaska Division of Elections. The ruling halts the campaign’s attempt to identify voters whose ballots were invalidated and understand the specific reasons for those rejections while the state continues its critical vote-counting operations.

Mkhwanazi and Former Ekurhuleni Officials to Face Court Over Blue Lights Scandal

Former Ekurhuleni metropolitan police department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and three former senior municipal officials are set to stand trial in the regional court on February 25, 2027. The case centers on allegations that the group facilitated the installation of unauthorized blue lights on vehicles linked to businessman Vusimuzi Matlala through fraudulent agreements.

Change text size: