Lula Extends a Friendly Hand to Banned Venezuelan Leader Maduro
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has made his first visit to Brazil since being banned by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in 2019. Maduro was welcomed by the new leftist president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a summit of Latin American leaders in Brasilia. Lula emphasized the significance of Maduro’s visit, stating that it marked the beginning of Maduro’s return. Both leaders talked about a “new era” in bilateral relations and emphasized the need to address poverty in the region.
While Maduro’s legitimacy is questioned by several countries, Lula expressed his opposition to US sanctions on Venezuela, criticizing what he called a “constructed narrative of authoritarianism” surrounding the country. Lula’s critics argue that he turns a blind eye to human rights violations and lack of free and fair elections under the Maduro administration.
During his visit, Maduro called for the lifting of US sanctions and sought support from other South American nations. Several countries in the region, including Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Brazil, now have left-wing leaders who may be inclined to support Maduro’s call.
However, it remains uncertain whether such demands would significantly impact the Biden administration’s policies toward Venezuela. Since his election in 2013, Maduro has become increasingly authoritarian, leading to US sanctions and the recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president in 2019.
In December, Venezuela’s opposition National Assembly dissolved its parallel government and removed Guaidó. This move demonstrated a loss of faith in Guaidó among many opposition politicians. The assembly also established a commission to govern the country’s foreign assets, aiming for a united front ahead of the scheduled 2024 elections.
Venezuela’s ongoing political and humanitarian crisis has resulted in approximately seven million people fleeing the country since 2015.
