Brazilian President Lula Warns Against U.S. 'Intervention' In Venezuela: 'They Can Cause More Damage Than They Seek To Prevent'

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warned against a "foreign intervention" in Latin America, a veiled reference to ramped up pressure by the Trump administration on Venezuela, claiming that his government "prioritizes" keeping the region as a "zone of peace."

Speaking while receiving new ambassadors to the country, Lula said that "foreign interventions can cause greater damages than those they seek to prevent." He went on to call for "cordial" foreign relations "based on good economic and commercial relationships."

"Without hate and hurting the basic principle of democracy and human rights," Lula said in another passage of his message.

It is the latest message against the U.S.'s pressure campaign against Venezuela from the Brazilian leader. Last week, he said that "the Venezuelan people own their destiny and no foreign president must dictate what Venezuela or Cuba will be like."

The Trump administration, however, continues with its escalation. The Washington Post reported last week that a Special Operations aviation unit has flown less than a 100 miles from Venezuela, yet another message to Caracas.

A U.S. official said the helicopters were conducting training flights and should not be taken as evidence of drills for a land assault into Venezuela.

However, report came a day after President Donald Trump confirmed he authorized the CIA to conduct lethal operations inside Venezuela, with officials telling The New York Times that the ultimate goal is removing authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Moreover, the Miami Herald reported on Thursday that the Trump administration rejected an offer by the Venezuelan regime to oust Maduro and undergo a transition.

On Friday, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz claimedthat the Trump administration's pressure campaign is "consistent with the law of armed conflict and Article 51 of the UN Charter."

In this context, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said citizens should "prepare for the worst." According to Infobae, the regime said it started conducting military drills and training civilians for combat. In this context, Padrino Lopez said Venezuelan should "prepare for the worst," calling the pressure from the Trump administration a "serious threat."

Maduro, on his end, again pleaded for peace with the U.S. "We don't want war in the Caribbean and South America," Maduro said during a televised message. He then changed to English, saying: "Not war, yes peace. With the people of the United States. Please, please, please. Listen to me. From the people of the Bolivarian Republic."