The Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva launched a strong criticism of the relationship between Washington and Caracas, stating that the United States "seems to govern Venezuela" and that the South American country has lost its sovereignty, according to statements made to CNN.
"What the United States has done in Venezuela is very serious. The sovereignty of the country has been lost. This is not good, it is not good for the United States, it is not good for Venezuela, and it is also not good for democracy," Lula stated in remarks made in English and translated into Spanish.
The leader went further and addressed the situation of the interim Venezuelan president Delcy Rodríguez directly: "If I were Delcy, I would call for national elections so that the people can choose who will be the next president of the country."
Lula also criticized the dynamics of subordination that, in his opinion, are reflected in the documents and agreements signed between the two countries: "The way the United States treats Delcy makes it seem like the United States is Delcy's boss. This is evident in all the media reports we see."
The Brazilian leader also criticized Donald Trump for boasting publicly about controlling Venezuelan oil: "Trump claims that he controls the oil from Venezuela to the United States, that they pay little to Venezuela, and that he has everything under control. This is not the best way to proceed with international relations," he said. On Tuesday, Trump presented that deal to the General Assembly as 'the largest oil agreement in history."
On August 28, Trump announced that the United States and Venezuela had signed ahistoric oil agreement, through which Washington gains majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan oil reserves, lasting for 25 years.
Trump met with Delcy Rodríguez in what constituted the first in-person contact between a U.S. president and a Venezuelan leader in over a decade.
Lula also commented on the fate of Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026: "If Maduro made a mistake, he must be judged. There must be an investigation."
When the capture of Maduro by U.S. forces occurred, Lula described it as "unacceptable" and a "very dangerous precedent." In March, he once again questioned Washington's actions in Venezuela and Cuba, labeling them as "undemocratic."
The leader of the Workers' Party (PT), who is seeking re-election in the Brazilian elections on October 4, pointed out that citizens chose Trump to govern the United States and not to impose his will on other countries, urging the White House not to interfere in these elections.
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