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Leaders in Latin America and the United Nations have voiced concerns about the spiralling tensions between the United States and Venezuela over the future of oil exports from the South American country.<\/p>\n
The high-profile remarks on Wednesday come as Venezuela\u2019s National Assembly convenes to discuss US President Donald Trump\u2019s threat of a full blockade on oil tankers entering and exiting the country.<\/p>\n list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n Petroleum is Venezuela\u2019s top export and a pillar of its economy. Experts warn that, by threatening to sever Venezuela from its foreign oil markets, the US is attempting to destabilise the country\u2019s economy and topple the leadership of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.<\/p>\n Already, tensions between the US and Venezuela are at a high, with the Trump administration surging military assets to the Caribbean and Maduro responding with his own troop movements.<\/p>\n That has led figures like United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to press for calm in the region and a de-escalation.<\/p>\n Through UN spokesperson Farhan Haq, Guterres called on both countries to \u201chonour their obligations under international law\u201d and \u201csafeguard peace in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n Guterres also spoke with Maduro by telephone on Wednesday, repeating the need for both parties to respect international law.<\/p>\n Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, however, questioned whether the UN was taking enough precautions to prevent a full-scale conflict from erupting in the Americas.<\/p>\n \u201cI call on the United Nations to fulfil its role. It has not been present. It must assume its role to prevent any bloodshed,\u201d Sheinbaum said in her morning news conference on Wednesday.<\/p>\n She echoed Guterres\u2019s appeal to find a \u201cpeaceful solution\u201d to the tensions, adding: \u201cWe call for dialogue and peace, not intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n The regional friction was also felt at a ministerial meeting in Brazil on Wednesday, where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke to the conflict.<\/p>\n \u201cI am concerned about Latin America. I am concerned about President Trump\u2019s attitudes toward Latin America, his threats. We are going to have to be very attentive to this issue,\u201d Lula said.<\/p>\n The Brazilian leader shared that he had spoken to Trump about Venezuela and urged him to find a diplomatic solution.<\/p>\n \u201cThe power of words can be worth more than the power of weapons,\u201d Lula said he told Trump. \u201cIt costs less and takes less time if you are willing to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that he had offered Brazil\u2019s services as a mediator to facilitate communications with Venezuela. It shares a border with Venezuela to the north, and previously, in 2022, Lula restored Brazil\u2019s relations with the Maduro government.<\/p>\n \u201cI told Trump: \u2018If you are interested in talking on good terms with Venezuela, we can contribute. Now, you have to be willing to talk. You have to have patience,’\u201d Lula said.<\/p>\n The comments come on the heels of Trump\u2019s latest threats on Tuesday.<\/p>\n On his online platform Truth Social, the US leader announced that he had designated Maduro\u2019s government as a \u201cforeign terrorist organisation\u201d and would implement a \u201cTOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela\u201d.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n