Brazil and Colombia Condemn “Destabilizing” U.S. Presence
Brasília, Brazil – January 4, 2026
The Andean Alarm: Brazil and Colombia Condemn “Destabilizing” U.S. Presence: Regional Leaders Fear Civil War.
The two most influential leaders in South America, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, have issued a joint condemnation of the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.
In a coordinated political move, both presidents warned that the U.S. attempt to “directly administer” Caracas will not lead to democracy, but to a “bloody and prolonged civil war” that will destabilize the entire continent.
The Sovereignty Pact
President Lula, speaking from the Palácio do Planalto, described the operation as a “flagrant violation of the principle of non-intervention.”
Brazil has long sought to be the primary mediator in the Venezuelan crisis, and the U.S. decision to bypass regional diplomacy has been viewed in Brasília as a personal and national insult.
Lula has called for an emergency meeting of the South American nations to discuss a “unified regional response” to the U.S. presence.
In Bogotá, President Petro’s reaction has been even more visceral. He has characterized the raid as “imperialist aggression” and warned that it will trigger a “massive and uncontrollable” wave of migration that Colombia is ill-equipped to handle.
By deploying troops to the border, Petro is not only preparing for a refugee crisis but also signaling that Colombia will not allow U.S. operations to bleed over into its territory.
The Fear of the “Colectivos”
The primary political concern for regional leaders is the “day after.” While Maduro is in New York, his paramilitary “Colectivos” and the National Guard remain armed and active in the Venezuelan interior.
Brazil and Colombia fear that the U.S. “direct administration” will only extend to Caracas and the oil fields, leaving the rest of the country to descend into warlordism.
This “fragmentation of the state” is the ultimate nightmare for Brasília and Bogotá, as it would create a permanent vacuum for drug cartels and armed insurgencies to thrive.
Headlines from the Continent:
• Continental Rejection: Brazil and Colombia lead the regional charge against U.S. intervention.
• Refugee Warning: Petro warns of “humanitarian catastrophe” on the Colombian border.
• Mediation Shattered: Lula slams Washington for bypassing South American diplomacy.
• Warlordism Fear: Regional leaders predict a “long and bloody” insurgency in the Venezuelan interior.
