Brazil, Russia agree to continue coordinating efforts to ‘de-escalate situation’ in Latin America

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Brazil and Russia have agreed to continue coordinating efforts to “de-escalate the situation” in Latin America, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

The presidential office in a statement said the agreement came during a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, noting it includes coordination within the UN and through BRICS.

“The leaders exchanged views on current international issues, with a focus on the situation surrounding Venezuela,” the readout said.

It added that the two presidents shared an approach regarding ensuring Venezuela’s state sovereignty and national interests.

“In the context of the upcoming meeting of the Russian-Brazilian High-Level Commission in February 2026, issues of further developing bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas were discussed in detail,” the statement added.

In a Jan. 3 military operation in Venezuela, the US captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and brought them to New York, where they pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges.

US President Donald Trump said his administration would "run" Venezuela and its oil assets during a transitional period.

Russia has condemned the US strikes on Venezuela, defining them as “armed aggression.”

The Brazilian president said the bombings and capture of Maduro “cross an unacceptable line.”