Lula to propose talks at CELAC to contain US-Venezuela tensions

His attendance was a last minute confirmation, amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with a growing likelihood of military action. Commenting on the issue before his trip, Lula affirmed that he wanted to avoid a “land invasion” and that he would offer to mediate the conflict. The Brazilian president stated, “The CELAC meeting only makes sense at this time if we are going to address the issue of US warships in Latin American seas.” He reported that he had the opportunity to speak with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to whom he expressed: “We are a zone of peace; we do not need war here,” in Latin America. He argued that the problem in Venezuela is political and must be resolved politically. However, there is a concern within the Government that Lula’s initiative could affect Brazil’s negotiations with the United States regarding tariffs imposed on Brazilian products. jdt/iff/oda/ocs