By Izabela Patriota

As if we needed any further proof that the Venezuelan government is a dystopian nightmare come to life, last week Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil declared to the UN General Assembly that Maduro’s presidency is legitimate, that the elections held in July accurately reflected the will of the people, and that it was the opposition — and not the Maduro regime — that instigated the ensuing violence. 

This narrative is perfectly in keeping with the propaganda displayed throughout Maduro’s election campaign in which Maduro portrayed himself as a hero fighting against American imperialism. Gil would have the international community believe that Venezuela is a victim of foreign interference, and not a country gripped by an oppressive dictator who silences dissent. Yet, Maduro’s “Operation Tum Tum (Nock Nock)” and the kidnapping of Maria Oropeza has only increased his notoriety as a tyrant. 

Yet somehow, leaders in the neighboring countries of Brazil and Columbia are not so sure.

Uruguay and Argentina have proved a beacon of opposition to Maduro’s tyrannous regime, and with their opposition, tensions in South America have risen to levels not seen since the 2019 Lima Group meeting, when regional leaders attempted to facilitate the transfer of power from Maduro to opposition leader Juan Guaido. 

It’s time for Brazil’s President Lula to join presidents La Calle Pou and Milei in standing up to Maduro. 

During a special meeting held by the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) on July 31, Uruguayan Ambassador Washington Abdala responded sharply to Venezuela’s electoral process. Abdala ridiculed the situation, sarcastically asking if over 8 million Venezuelans had left the country for "tourism," highlighting that their mass departure was a direct result of the dictatorship's oppression. 

In Argentina, President Javier Milei has consistently condemned the regime’s actions. Only two days after the election, the diplomatic crisis reached its peak, when Maduro gave Argentine diplomats 72 hours to leave the country, accusing them of interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs. While the diplomats were granted safe passage, no such guarantees were extended to the six asylum seekers (based there since March), leaving their fate in a limbo.

This crisis extended beyond Caracas when Brazil stepped in to manage the Argentinian embassy’s affairs in Venezuela. The decision to transfer diplomatic responsibility to Brazil was born out of necessity, with the escalating of tensions between their governments. 

To make matters worse, Maduro’s government revoked Brazil’s custody of the Argentinian embassy earlier in the month, accusing the asylum seekers of plotting terrorist activities. While Brazil attempts to mediate the situation, the Maduro regime has surrounded the embassy with security forces and even restricted access to food for the asylum seekers. Yet, during the UN General Assembly last week in New York, Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Mauricio Vieira, formally requested safe passage for the six opposition figures seeking asylum in the Argentine embassy in Caracas. 

This diplomatic standoff shows the extent to which Venezuela’s internal repression has spilled onto the international stage. Given the ongoing crisis in its neighboring country and the chaos surrounding the embassy overseen by Brazil, Lula should align himself with Milei and Lacalle Pou. If the Brazilian president truly wants to consolidate himself as a regional leader, he must set aside their ideological disagreements and bring Colombia’s President Petro — who has taken a stance similar to Lula’s — into alignment with Argentina and Uruguay. Calling for another election after a fraudulent one has already taken place is not only shameful but also diminishes Brazil's role as a regional leader. Lula’s current approach risks legitimizing Maduro’s tyranny and turning a blind eye to the suffering of the Venezuelan people.

Calling for another election after a fraudulent one has already taken place is not only shameful but also diminishes Brazil's role as a regional leader. Lula’s current approach risks legitimizing Maduro’s tyranny and turning a blind eye to the suffering of the Venezuelan people.

The nightmare in Venezuela cannot be covered up. As the international community watches, the repression deepens, and the need for action grows. The fight for freedom is not just a Venezuelan issue, but for the entire region. 

Izabela Patriota is a PhD in Law Political Economy from University of São Paulo, the Director of Development of the Ladies of Liberty Alliance, and a Young Voices contributor.