Brazilian President Lula criticized US actions in Venezuela, saying Maduro’s detention was an unacceptable course of action that ran counter to regional stability.
Published January 26, 2026
The Brazilian government announced in a statement that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump and agreed to visit Washington soon.
The two leaders discussed several issues during a 50-minute phone call on Monday, including the situation in Venezuela, President Trump’s proposed “peace commission” in the Gaza Strip, and the fight against organized crime.
“Mr. Lula and Mr. Trump exchanged views on the situation in Venezuela, and the Brazilian president emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the Brazilian president emphasized the importance of “maintaining peace and stability in the region” regarding Venezuela.
Lula criticized the US abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was deposed earlier this month and taken to New York on drug trafficking charges. Brazil’s president condemned the move, saying it crossed an “unacceptable line.”
Lula on Monday stressed to President Trump the need to work for the welfare of the Venezuelan people.
The Brazilian government’s statement did not say whether Lula had accepted President Trump’s invitation to join the effort.
peace committee
Lula also called for Trump’s new Peace Council proposal to be “limited to Gaza and include a seat on Palestine” as world powers fear the initiative, launched last Thursday, could take on a broader role and rival the United Nations.
Lula also called for “comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including expanding the permanent membership of the Security Council.”
On Friday, Lula, 80, accused President Trump, 79, of proposing a “peace commission” and trying to create “a new United Nations owned only by him” following the Oct. 10 ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian war.
Although originally intended to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, the Council’s charter does not seem to limit its role to the Palestinian territories and appears to aim to rival the United Nations.
Traditional allies of the United States, such as France and Britain, have also expressed doubts.
“Unacceptable line”
Lula and Trump have had several contacts since their first official meeting in October, marking an amelioration of months of hostility between Washington and Brasilia.
As a result, the Trump administration exempted major Brazilian exports from the 40% tariff imposed on Brazil and lifted sanctions against a top Brazilian judge.
Lula said earlier this month that the U.S. attack on Venezuela, aimed at kidnapping President Maduro, had crossed an “unacceptable line.”
The presidential palace said the visit would follow Lula’s visits to India and South Korea in February and the dates would be decided “soon.”
Lula, a veteran leftist, has held telephone talks in recent days with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
