Lula urged Trump to avoid military action in Venezuela, warning it could destabilise South America and worsen the crisis.

Sao Paulo

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has stressed the need for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the crisis in Venezuela during a recent phone call with US President Donald Trump. According to reports first published by O Estado de S. Paulo and later confirmed by Brasil 247, Lula expressed strong concern over the possibility of US military intervention in the neighbouring country.

Lula reportedly warned Trump that any military step could lead to serious “collateral effects” across South America. He said such an action could worsen the humanitarian situation in Venezuela, trigger a larger flow of migrants, and even increase the risk of civil conflict. He also stressed that these problems would not remain within Venezuela’s borders and could quickly spread to Brazil, Colombia, and other nearby countries, raising regional tensions.

The report says Lula repeated his belief that only dialogue and negotiation can bring lasting peace to Venezuela. Trump, however, did not clearly state his plans, keeping open the option of military action or continued talks with President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

Officials close to Lula believe that any US intervention would face strong resistance from major global powers. They noted that the European Union, Russia, and China are unlikely to support such a move. Within the Brazilian government, many think Washington’s interest in Venezuela is closely tied to the country’s large oil reserves.

During the call, Lula also briefed Trump for the first time on Brazil’s recent efforts against organised crime. He highlighted Federal Police actions aimed at weakening the financial networks of groups like the Carbono Oculto faction. Trump reportedly expressed interest in deeper cooperation.

The 40-minute conversation took place while Lula was visiting the Abreu e Lima refinery in Pernambuco. He welcomed the US move to remove a 40% surcharge on some Brazilian exports but urged faster progress on tariff-reduction talks. Although Trump was polite, he offered no firm commitments.