Brazilian President Says Maduro Should Face Justice in Venezuela, Not Abroad
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took a diplomatic stance on the detention of Nicolas Maduro, saying that the Venezuelan leader must face legal accountability within his own borders rather than in a foreign courtroom.
The comments at the Artificial Intelligence Summit in India follow the abduction of Maduro in Caracas by the US on Jan. 3.
“I am of the firm belief that if Nicolás Maduro is to stand trial, he should be tried in Venezuela, not abroad,” Lula told India Today TV on Friday, emphasizing a commitment to national jurisdiction over international intervention.
Lula said the ultimate objective remains the “restoration of democracy in Venezuela,” but the methods used to achieve it must respect the fundamental principles of national sovereignty.
He argued that the international community cannot set a precedent where a sitting head of state is forcibly captured by another nation.
Lula’s comments come at a delicate moment in Brazil-US relations, as he is working to finalize a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, tentatively scheduled for March.
His agenda is focused on repealing the extra tariffs that continue to stifle trade between the two largest economies in the Americas.
