Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the unfolding situation in Venezuela, with both leaders expressing support for a peaceful, negotiated and Venezuelan-led transition that respects the country’s democratic will.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Carney and Lula agreed that any resolution to the crisis must be driven by Venezuelans themselves and must adhere strictly to international law and the principle of national sovereignty. Their discussion came days after the US military conducted a raid in Venezuela, seizing ousted leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife and transferring them to New York.
The United Nations human rights office has criticised the US intervention, calling it a violation of international law and warning that such actions undermine global security. US President Donald Trump, in an interview with The New York Times, suggested that Washington could oversee Venezuela and control its oil revenues for an extended period. The US administration has thrown its support behind Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, sidelining opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado.
Carney spoke with Machado on Sunday, with his office saying he thanked her for being a strong voice for the Venezuelan people. While Canada has long been critical of Maduro’s government over alleged human rights violations and described his removal from power as “welcome news,” Ottawa has stopped short of endorsing the US military operation and has consistently called for respect for international law.
Brazilian President Lula, meanwhile, has openly condemned Washington’s actions, describing the US intervention as crossing an “unacceptable line.”
