On Saturday, the President of Brazil will be visiting the United States. And, far from being a coincidence of the calendar, the Brazilian right-wing government recalled Thursday "all" its diplomatic staff from Venezuela and asked Caracas to withdraw its representatives in Brazil. "There will be no one left in Venezuela," confirmed a government source. The two countries have had strained relations since the coming to power of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in early 2019.
Some 10,000 Brazilians live in Venezuela
According to local press, the withdrawal process should take around two months. But this measure does not mean closing the embassy, said the government source. "The Brazilian government is currently assessing how consular assistance will be provided," she added, referring to the estimated 10,000 Brazilians living in Venezuela who may be affected.
In mid-February, Venezuelan Socialist President Nicolas Maduro accused his Brazilian counterpart of wanting an "armed conflict" between the two countries. "There are terrorist groups which, from Brazilian territory, are preparing attacks and military incursions against Venezuela and we have the right to defend ourselves," he added, calling his Brazilian counterpart "fascist". A major military exercise, dubbed “Bolivarian Shield 2020”, then took place in several regions of Venezuela, particularly near the borders with Colombia and Brazil.
Brazil, Colombia and Peru are among the sixty or so countries that want Nicolas Maduro to step down and who have recognized the opponent Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela.
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- Nicolas Maduro
- Diplomacy
- Jair Bolsonaro
- Brazil
- Venezuela
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