The Brazilian government stated it has not offered asylum to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and that he has shown no interest in it. Officials prioritize preventing a US military intervention in Venezuela, fearing regional instability. Brazil is not mediating talks between Washington and Caracas.
According to high-ranking Brazilian government sources, the country does not intend to grant asylum or refuge to Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's leader. Recent reports suggested otherwise, but the dictator has not indicated any desire for protection in Brazilian territory or the embassy in Caracas. If a formal request is made, the government will evaluate it, though it believes Brazil is not Maduro's preferred option.
Relations between Brazil and Venezuela have been strained since the Brazilian government refused to recognize the 2024 elections in the neighboring country, deemed fraudulent by international observers. Additionally, excluding Venezuela from the Brics group worsened bilateral ties. Brasília's top priority is to prevent a US military action, whose risk remains high. A US attack could intensify refugee flows to neighboring nations and encourage interventions in other regional countries, such as Colombia and Mexico, criticized by Donald Trump for alleged leniency toward drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Brazilian officials stress that the country is not involved in mediations between the US and Venezuela, nor was it part of the phone call between Trump and Maduro. A forced resignation of Maduro, pressed by the White House, would cause chaos, with the opposition – including Maria Corina Machado – lacking the strength to take power, creating a vacuum that could spill over to Brazil, similar to cases in Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Brazil was not notified in advance about the meeting between businessman Joesley Batista and Maduro, in which the former reportedly urged the leader's resignation, as reported by Bloomberg and informed to the White House. Under Trump, the US has mobilized significant military forces in Latin America, resulting in over 80 deaths in operations against alleged drug transports. Hardliners like Secretary of State Marco Rubio advocate for intervention to oust Maduro, with deployment of firepower, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, in waters near Venezuela.