Venezuela Closes Border with Brazil Following US Military Strike

Venezuela Temporarily Closes Border with Brazil Following US Attack

Sao Paulo, Brazil - Venezuela has closed its border with Brazil following a morning attack by US forces on Caracas, where President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were reportedly “captured”. The border crossing between Pacaraima and Santa Elena de Uairen had been closed for approximately five hours, preventing Brazilian citizens from entering the country.

According to a Brazilian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, there was no formal protocol in place regarding entry and exit criteria for Venezuelans. However, Brazilians were allowed to leave while Venezuelans faced restrictions. The border has since reopened, according to the governor of Roraima.

Brazil’s government has announced that it is monitoring the border and has sent military personnel to the region to bolster security. A statement from Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs read: “The Minister of Defense indicated that there is no abnormal activity on the border between Brazil and Venezuela, which will continue to be monitored.”

Venezuela’s largest foreign population resides in Brazil, with 77,563 immigrants from the country living in Roraima alone. Over 8 million Venezuelans have fled their homes in the past decade, with more than 6 million resettling in other Latin American countries.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has expressed concern over US actions inside Venezuela, stating that they “cross an unacceptable line”. The Brazilian leader has urged restraint for months amid increased US military buildup off Venezuela’s coast.

Analysts warn that Maduro’s removal could lead to further destabilization in Latin America and potentially spark another wave of migration. Professor Joao Carlos Jarochinski Silva notes that the resilience capacity of Chavismo within Venezuela will play a crucial role in determining the outcome.

The Trump administration has cut funding to USAID, which heavily affects Venezuela’s neighbours, Brazil and Colombia. The US military actions inside Venezuela have raised concerns about humanitarian resources being affected.

Source: Al Jazeera