Picture of fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. Loud explosions, accompanied by sounds resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard in Caracas around 2:00 am (0600 GMT) on January 3, an AFP journalist reported. Photo: VCG

By Brasil 247 -  Brazil's government has called an extraordinary meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to discuss US attacks on Venezuelan territory and what it describes as the illegal detention of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, as tensions escalate across the region. According to TeleSUR, the meeting will gather representatives from all Latin American and Caribbean countries and aims to shape a common regional position.

Brazil's acting foreign minister, Maria Laura da Rocha, officially confirmed the ministerial meeting and stated: "A ministerial meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is being convened, with the participation of all countries in the region, for tomorrow [Sunday (Jan 4)], at 2:00 p.m., local time in Brasília." The meeting is expected to assess the consequences of the attacks for regional stability and to coordinate a joint response by CELAC members.

In parallel to the regional initiative, the Brazilian government intends to bring the issue to the international arena. Maria Laura da Rocha said Brazil will present its opposition to the US intervention at a UN Security Council meeting scheduled for next Monday (Jan 5), seeking to denounce what Brazil considers a serious violation of international law and to push for a multilateral response.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the attacks and the detention of the Venezuelan president in a statement made on Saturday morning (Jan 3). "These acts represent a serious affront to Venezuela's sovereignty and establish an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community," he said.

Lula also warned about the broader implications of the use of force in international relations. "Attacking countries, in flagrant violation of international law, is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism," the president said in an official communiqué.

He stressed that Brazil's position is consistent with its diplomatic posture in other recent crises. "The condemnation of the use of force is consistent with the position Brazil has always adopted in recent situations in other countries and regions. This action evokes the worst moments of interference in Latin American and Caribbean politics and threatens the preservation of the region as a zone of peace," he said.

Lula concluded by calling for a firm response through the United Nations. "Brazil condemns these actions and remains willing to promote dialogue and cooperation," he emphasized, reiterating Brazil's commitment to national sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

(Reported by Brasil 247 on Jan 4, 2026)