As the Brazilian government subordinates itself to the US, Workers Party Congressmen move to block support for Trump’s mission in Venezuela.
On February 21, PT Congressmen Paulo Pimenta and Paulo Teixeira filed orders to summon Defense Minister General Fernando Azevedo e Silva and Foreign Affairs Minister Ernesto Araújo on February 21st, to explain Brazilian government support for The US so-called “humanitarian” mission to Venezuela to Congress, and to trigger a Congressional vote on the matter as quickly as possible.
In order, Pimenta and Teixeira say that Brazilian Constitution has clear stipulations to respect the self-determination of peoples, non-interference, the defense of peace and peaceful conflict resolution. It is not in Brazil’s best interests,” the say, to participate in a US-sponsored action in Venezuelan territory.
“Brazil’s participation in any bellicose and dangerous plan coordinated by the United States to destabilize Venezuela’s elected government is a strong indicator of interventionist goals that undermine both South American regional integration and peace on the continent,” Said Pimenta, who also complained of an announcement made on 9 February by Admiral Craig Faller, chief of the Southern Command, during a presentation made to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Faller announced the appointment of Brigadier General Alcides Valeriano de Faria Junior to represent Brazil as Deputy Commander for Interoperability of the US armed forces’ Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) this year.
SOUTHCOM is made up of US Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard troops and has the task of defending US security policy in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
For Congressman Pimenta, by engaging in US-designed and US-led military operations, Brazil will voluntarily place itself in a position of military subordination to US actions in South America. He says that Trump’s interventionist action in Venezuela is a “direct affront to our country’s interests in the region, which would be much better served with a strategy of peaceful negotiation and respect for Venezuelan national sovereignty.”
In their orders summoning the Ministers, the Congressmen note that Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves – 298.3 billion barrels – 17.5% of the world’s reserves. During the Hugo Chávez administration Venezuela began to refocus its foreign policy and reduce its economic dependence on the US, with significant investment in regional integration and South-South cooperation, contrary to Washington’s interests. Furthermore, they say that it was not a coincidence that the fourth US fleet – the Southcom naval force – was reestablished in 2008, 58 years after it was deactivated, coincidentally shortly after Brazil announced the discovery of the gigantic pre-salt offshore oil reserves.
In the order, Pimenta and Teixeira say that the Brazilian Congress and Brazilian society need to know the extent of any military cooperation with the US that has been negotiated by the right wing extremist government of Jair Bolsonaro.
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