February 23, 2026 | 01:09 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro should be tried in his own country, not in the United States (US), where he is currently being held following a US military operation on January 3. Lula made the statement in an interview reported by Al Jazeera.
"I believe that if Maduro has to be trialled, he has to be trialled in his country, not trialled abroad," Lula said. He emphasized that "what matters now is to re-establish democracy in Venezuela."
Rejects Foreign Intervention
Lula emphasized that the solution to the Venezuelan crisis must come from the Venezuelan people themselves. "It has to be solved by the people of Venezuela, and not by foreign interference," he said, referring to the history of US-backed dictatorships in Latin America, including in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.
He also strongly criticized the arrest of heads of state by other countries. "We cannot accept that a head of state of one country could invade another country and capture the president," Lula said.
According to Anadolu Agency, Lula made this diplomatic stance while attending an Artificial Intelligence Summit in India. He reiterated, "I am of the firm belief that if Nicolás Maduro is to stand trial, he should be tried in Venezuela, not abroad." He added that efforts to restore democracy must respect the principles of national sovereignty and the constitutional jurisdiction of each country.
Military Operation and Narcotics Charges
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested in a night raid in Caracas ordered by US President Donald Trump. Maduro was then flown to New York. US authorities accused him of planning to ship narcotics to the United States and collaborating with major drug trafficking groups in the region, including those in Colombia and Mexico.
However, US government data shows that Venezuela is not among the world's major narcotics producers. The Trump administration has stated that its military deployment around Venezuela and maritime blockade of the country are aimed at combating drug trafficking.
Furthermore, Trump has also claimed Venezuela's oil reserves since Maduro's ouster. He invited US oil companies to exploit Venezuela's oil, saying he wants the proceeds to "benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States."
Brazil-US Relations
In Caracas, Delcy Rodríguez, acting as interim president, is reportedly working to secure the release of hundreds of politicians, activists, and lawyers imprisoned during Maduro's rule since 2013. The Venezuelan Parliament also unanimously passed an amnesty law.
Lula's statement comes amid Brazil's efforts to maintain relations with Washington. The Brazilian government is reportedly arranging a meeting with President Trump in Washington next March.
In addition to discussing Venezuela, Lula also focused on lifting additional tariffs deemed to be burdensome on trade between the two largest economies in the Americas.
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