Mario Vitor Santos and Lula
247 “O Globo interviews the monstrous Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland, responsible for the invasions of Iraq, Afghanistan and the coup and war in Ukraine, and only asks how Brazil can continue to fulfill the wishes of the US. Brazilian corporate journalism is nonsense,” the journalist wrote on Twitter.
In the interview, US Undersecretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland emphasized the importance of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s role in promoting free and transparent elections in Venezuela. In her opinion, Brazil can have a decisive influence in convincing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to allow a fair electoral process in his country, she said in an interview with journalists Daniel Gullino and Eliane Oliveira of the newspaper O Globo. “With Brazil’s leadership in all of this, and especially with his (diplomatic) savvy, we hope that Maduro will influence him to allow for a truly free and fair playing field for these elections, to ensure that all candidates can run, that there is free access to the media, that the primaries are open and all of that stuff,” she said.
After a series of meetings in Brasília with Brazilian authorities, including Celso Amorim, Advisor for International Affairs at the Palácio do Planalto, and Maria Laura Rocha, Secretary General of the Itamaraty, Nuland granted an interview to the newspaper O Globo. Several issues were raised during the conversation, including the political crisis in Venezuela, the situation in Nicaragua and efforts to mediate the end of the war in Ukraine.
The Undersecretary of State highlighted the partnership between the United States and Brazil and shared commitment to finding free and fair elections in Venezuela. Victoria Nuland stressed efforts to ensure that all candidates have equal opportunities, free access to the media and open primary elections, with the goal of transparent and democratic elections in the neighboring country.
In addition to the Venezuelan question, the diplomat addressed Brazil’s role as a possible mediator in the Ukraine war and emphasized the importance of diplomatic dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. She commended the interest of several countries, including Brazil, in promoting a just peace based on the principles of the UN Charter in the region.
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Another point highlighted during the interview was the situation in Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega has faced international criticism and pressure. Nuland expressed hope that President Lula can positively influence Ortega and seek solutions to respect human rights and release priests imprisoned for disagreements with the government.
The undersecretary also commented on Brazilian democracy, reaffirming the US administration’s support for Brazil’s robust electoral system and its belief in the country’s democratic process. She mentioned that Brazil has a differentiated influence on relations with Russia and China, and that cooperation between the two countries can lead to significant progress.
Referring to the climate crisis and the preservation of the Amazon, Victoria Nuland spoke about the United States’ efforts to invest in the Amazon Fund and seek cooperation with Brazil to address environmental challenges. President Biden had already pledged $500 million to the fund during President Lula’s visit to Washington.
Concluding the interview, the diplomat stressed the importance of taking the case to the US Congress to ensure investments in the Amazon Fund and stressed the mutual benefits of this cooperation between the two countries.