Brasilia, Nov 13 (EFE).- The Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, stated this Wednesday in an appearance in Congress that, despite the clear deterioration of Brazil‘s relations with Venezuela, the current moment has to be one of dialogue and not to break relations with the neighboring country.
“Although circumstances impose an inevitable decrease in the dynamism of relations, that does not mean that Brazil has to break relations with Venezuela or something of that nature,” said the chancellor in reference to Caracas’ recent decision to recall its ambassador. in Brasilia for consultations.
Vieira added that the Venezuelan ambassador was not permanently removed from the country, that the Brazilian ambassador in Caracas remains in her position and has very good relations with the Venezuelan authorities, and that he himself continues to maintain contacts with his counterpart from the neighboring country.
“On the contrary, the current moment is one of dialogue, negotiation and non-isolation, which are key to a peaceful solution to the crisis in Venezuela,” he assured.
Relations began to deteriorate since the presidential elections last July because the Government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva did not recognize the victory granted by the Venezuelan electoral body to President Nicolás Maduro, and they worsened in October when Brazil vetoed Venezuela’s entry. to the BRICS as a full member after the bloc’s summit held in Russia.
Since then, different Venezuelan authorities have harshly criticized Lula.
Vieira said that Brazil is not obliged to recognize Maduro’s supposed victory in the presidential elections because, by tradition, the country does not recognize governments but states.
«The current moment is delicate and requires professionalism and caution from diplomacy. Brazil’s practice is to recognize States and not governments. It is a tradition that seeks to avoid the politicization of the recognition or non-recognition of a foreign Government,” he assured.
According to the chancellor, Brazil has insisted on dialogue with Venezuela and other countries about the Venezuelan crisis not only because it is an important neighbor but also because it was guarantor of the Barbados Agreement, in which the Government and opposition defined the bases for the elections of this year, and because, at Maduro’s invitation, he was an election observer.
He added, however, that the solution to the crisis has to be “constructed” by the Venezuelans themselves and not imposed from outside with more sanctions and isolation.
«We already saw that that does not work. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the time when Juan Guaidó was proclaimed interim president. There were two presidents, but one only had a title and did not have a country to govern,” he said.
“That has nothing to do with interference or recognition of something political but rather the needs of a relationship,” he said.
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What are the key factors contributing to the recent tensions between Brazil and Venezuela?
**Interview with Dr. Clara Marques, International Relations Expert**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Marques. Recent tensions between Brazil and Venezuela are making headlines. Can you summarize the current state of affairs between these two countries?
**Dr. Marques:** Certainly. The relationship between Brazil and Venezuela has deteriorated significantly in the past few months. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira recently commented on this situation, emphasizing the need for dialog despite the challenges. He pointed out that the recent decision by Venezuela to recall its ambassador from Brasilia for consultations is indicative of rising tensions, but he reassured that this does not mean a complete breakdown in diplomatic relations [[1](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-venezuela-diplomacy-maduro-lula-celso-amorim-9c6f7d837c6d15307d2562f6cdfe683a)].
**Editor:** What are the main reasons behind this diplomatic rift?
**Dr. Marques:** The deterioration began following the presidential elections in Venezuela last July. Brazil’s government, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, did not recognize the electoral victory of Nicolás Maduro, which caused friction. The situation escalated further in October when Brazil vetoed Venezuela’s entry into BRICS as a full member, signaling a significant shift in regional support [[1](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-venezuela-diplomacy-maduro-lula-celso-amorim-9c6f7d837c6d15307d2562f6cdfe683a)].
**Editor:** Minister Vieira mentioned the importance of maintaining dialog. What steps is Brazil taking to facilitate this?
**Dr. Marques:** Minister Vieira highlighted that the Brazilian ambassador in Caracas remains in position, and contacts between Brazilian and Venezuelan officials are still ongoing. He stressed that a peaceful resolution to Venezuela’s internal crisis relies on continued negotiation and non-isolation, suggesting that Brazil aims to keep diplomatic channels open despite the tensions [[1](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-venezuela-diplomacy-maduro-lula-celso-amorim-9c6f7d837c6d15307d2562f6cdfe683a)].
**Editor:** Given the current situation, what future developments can we expect in Brazil-Venezuela relations?
**Dr. Marques:** It’s hard to predict with certainty, as the relationship is quite fragile. However, if both sides continue to prioritize dialog as Minister Vieira suggested, there is potential for a gradual improvement. Further diplomatic efforts will be crucial, especially as regional dynamics evolve with external influences from other countries in Latin America and beyond. The situation requires careful management to avoid deeper conflicts.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Marques, for your insightful analysis. We will continue to monitor this situation closely.