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Mexico and Brazil both offered to mediate between the US and Venezuela as President Donald Trump’s tanker blockade increases tensions between the two countries.
“If the parties wish, we can always act as a negotiating point,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her daily news conference on Wednesday. “They have to put forward this proposal to us and if not, they have to look for mediators who can help avoid any conflict in the region.”
A few hours later, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also offered to act as a peacemaker.
“I told Trump that if he is interested in negotiating properly with Venezuela, we can help,” Lula said in a televised cabinet meeting. “I’m concerned about Latin America. I’m concerned about President Trump’s actions, threats toward Latin America.”
On Tuesday, Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan ports, increasing pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s government as the US increases its military presence in the region.
“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest armada ever seen in the history of South America,” Trump wrote on social media Tuesday. “It will get even bigger, and the shock for them will be like they have never seen before.”
Sheinbaum also said that the United Nations needed to help find a peaceful solution to the dispute. He said he had not spoken to Maduro.
Sheinbaum cited U.S. policy toward Cuba as an example, saying blockades targeting governments harm civilian populations.
Last week the US seized a banned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The Pentagon has launched dozens of strikes against alleged drug-trafficking ships in waters near Venezuela and Colombia, while Trump has suggested the US could also strike targets on land.
With assistance from Carolina Millan and Daniel Carvalho.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.
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