Brazil wants to work with Trump while objecting to how Trump acts
In the turbulent wake of a US military operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power, Brazil has stepped forward not as a partisan but as a bridge — seeking to stand between Washington's assertiveness and Caracas's uncertain new chapter. President Lula's government, navigating the ancient tension between principle and pragmatism, has publicly condemned the intervention as a violation of sovereignty while quietly cultivating ties with both the Trump administration and Venezuela's new leadership under Delcy Rodríguez. It is a posture as old as diplomacy itself: to object to the method while embracing the moment, and to find in another nation's upheaval an opportunity for one's own relevance.
- The US military capture of Nicolás Maduro has shattered the regional order, leaving Venezuela in the hands of Delcy Rodríguez and the hemisphere scrambling to respond.
- Brazil finds itself pulled in opposing directions — needing Trump's goodwill ahead of a planned 2026 state visit while facing domestic and international pressure to defend Latin American sovereignty.
- Lula's government released a formal condemnation of the American intervention just moments after his team finished a phone call with the very leader the intervention installed, exposing the raw contradiction at the heart of the strategy.
- Brazilian officials are quietly positioning the country as the indispensable partner for Venezuela's economic reconstruction, eyeing influence over oil sector recovery and regional investment flows.
- With Brazil's own presidential elections approaching in October 2026, every diplomatic move carries an electoral shadow — and Trump's known appetite for shaping foreign political outcomes is not lost on Brasília.
When US forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, Brazil's government saw not only a crisis but an opening. According to sources close to the presidential palace, President Lula and his advisors believe Brazil can serve as a central stabilizing force in Venezuela's reconstruction — attracting international oil companies and positioning the country as an indispensable regional partner.
The strategy, however, is built on a visible fault line. Brasília wants to deepen ties with both the Trump administration and Venezuela's new government under Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed the presidency following Maduro's detention. At the same time, Brazil has formally and publicly condemned the US military operation as an unacceptable violation of Venezuelan sovereignty — objecting, in official statements, to the very action that created the political opening it now hopes to fill.
The tension crystallized on January 3rd, when Lula spoke briefly by phone with Rodríguez. The call was described as 'super quick' — its purpose simply to confirm Maduro's fate. Rodríguez acknowledged his detention but said she did not yet know where he was being held. Minutes later, Brazil's government issued its condemnation of the American intervention.
Despite the friction, Lula's planned visit to the United States in early 2026 remains on the calendar, following an invitation from Trump extended late last year. Brazilian officials regard the continued engagement as essential — particularly given Trump's demonstrated willingness to meddle in foreign elections, a concern that sharpens as Brazil approaches its own presidential vote in October 2026. The country is wagering that a middle position, however uncomfortable, is more valuable than choosing a side.
Brazil's government has positioned itself as a crucial intermediary in the aftermath of a dramatic military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by United States forces. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his advisors believe Brazil can play a central role in stabilizing Venezuela and attracting international oil companies back to the country, according to sources close to the presidential palace who spoke with GloboNews analyst Ana Flor.
The diplomatic strategy is delicate. Brasília wants to maintain strong relations with Donald Trump while simultaneously deepening ties with Venezuela's new leadership under Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed the presidency following Maduro's detention. The goal is to position Brazil as an essential partner in Venezuela's political and economic reconstruction—a role that could yield significant influence and investment opportunities for Brazilian interests in the region.
Yet the strategy contains an internal contradiction that reflects the complexity of contemporary diplomacy. While cultivating this relationship with Washington, the Brazilian government has publicly condemned the US military operation as an unacceptable violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. This criticism has been formalized in official statements and international speeches. The tension is real: Brazil wants to work with Trump while simultaneously objecting to how Trump has chosen to act.
Lula's planned visit to the United States in the first half of 2026 remains on the calendar despite the recent intervention. Trump extended the invitation during a phone conversation late last year, a signal that both capitals see value in maintaining open channels. Brazilian officials view this continued engagement as strategically important, particularly given Trump's demonstrated willingness to influence electoral outcomes beyond American borders—a consideration that takes on added weight as Brazil approaches its own presidential elections scheduled for October 2026.
On Saturday, January 3rd, just days after the operation that removed Maduro from power, Lula spoke by telephone with Rodríguez. The conversation was brief, described by the presidential palace as "super quick." Its purpose was straightforward: to officially confirm what had happened to Maduro. During the call, Rodríguez acknowledged his detention but said she had no information yet about where the former president was being held. After the conversation concluded, Brazil's government released an official statement condemning the American military intervention.
This sequence of events—the phone call with the new Venezuelan leader, followed immediately by a public condemnation of the operation that put her in power—encapsulates Brazil's balancing act. The country is attempting to remain a trusted partner to the United States while preserving its own credibility as a defender of regional sovereignty and non-interference. Whether this middle position can hold as Venezuela's political situation develops remains an open question.
Notable Quotes
Brazilian government condemned the US military operation as an unacceptable violation of Venezuelan sovereignty— Lula government official statement
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why would Brazil want to mediate between the US and Venezuela if the US just seized Venezuela's president?
Because the operation already happened. Brazil can't undo it. What it can do is position itself as the country that helps rebuild what comes next—and that's where real influence and economic opportunity lie.
But doesn't condemning the operation undermine Lula's ability to work with Trump?
Not necessarily. It's a way of saying: we'll work with you, but we won't pretend we didn't see what you did. It's a signal to other countries in the region that Brazil isn't simply a US client state.
The timing of that phone call with Rodríguez—right before the condemnation—seems calculated.
It is. Lula needed to confirm the facts directly, to show he was engaged and informed. Then the statement follows. It's about establishing credibility with both sides.
What's the electoral angle here?
Brazil votes in October 2026. Trump has shown he'll meddle in other countries' elections. Lula's team is thinking: if we maintain this relationship, maybe we can influence how Trump approaches Brazil's election, or at least understand his intentions.
Is this strategy likely to work?
It depends on whether Venezuela stabilizes and whether oil companies actually return. If reconstruction happens and Brazil gets credit for facilitating it, yes. If Venezuela remains chaotic, Brazil looks like it's complicit in something it publicly opposed.