Lula Condemns US Actions on Venezuela and Cuba at Summit

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned what he described as a resurgence of colonial tactics against developing nations during a summit in Bogota, Colombia, on Saturday, spotlighting the United States' recent seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and an oil blockade on Cuba as examples of undemocratic interference.

Speaking at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit, which included a forum with African delegates, Lula questioned the legitimacy of such actions without directly naming the United States or President Donald Trump. "It's not possible for someone to think that they own other countries," he said. "What are they doing with Cuba now? What did they do with Venezuela? Is that democratic?" The remarks came amid heightened tensions in the region, as U.S. forces captured Maduro on January 3 and transported him to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons violations. The blockade on Cuban oil imports, imposed last month after Trump labeled the island a security threat, has exacerbated energy shortages there, triggering a second nationwide blackout on Saturday that left more than 10 million residents without power.