After Maduro was kidnapped, Brazil quickly moved closer to China, and President Lula signed an emergency directive!

On the early morning of January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was raided and arrested by U.S. special forces in the capital Caracas, and quickly transported to New York. This military operation, whose code name is unknown but highly precise, was completed in less than three hours, shocking the world. Just 21 days after the incident - on January 24, Brazilian President Lula suddenly announced a seemingly "routine" but highly symbolic diplomatic move: to exempt Chinese citizens from certain short-term visa categories.

As the largest economy in South America, a core member of the BRICS mechanism, and a key coordinator of regional affairs, Brazil plays a significant role in Latin American geopolitics. After Maduro was taken away by the U.S. through force, Lula immediately publicly condemned it, calling it a "clear violation of international law," and warning that this was an "extremely dangerous precedent." Since then, he has repeatedly emphasized the principle of inviolability of sovereignty in the United Nations and bilateral occasions, with a clear stance that goes far beyond general diplomatic rhetoric.

Brazil's diplomatic actions have clearly accelerated after the Maduro incident. On January 5, Brazil supported China's initiative to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council; on January 9, it issued a joint statement with Mexico, Chile, and other countries, opposing unilateral military intervention. The U.S. action against Venezuela not only challenged the bottom line of international law, but also undermined the security expectations of all Latin American countries. As Chilean President Boric said: "Today is Venezuela, tomorrow could be any country."

Although there is currently no evidence that Brazil has sought military or security support from China, it is unknown whether Chinese security companies might take this opportunity to provide security measures to Lula. Chinese veterans are probably much stronger than Cuban ones. The air defense firepower is estimated to make the U.S. Apache helicopters retreat.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1855168960021514/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.