By: Sam Jones > Published in: *The Guardian* > Date: January 5, 2026 >
*The governments of Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay have just put out this strong joint statement in response to what they term “the gravity of the events occurring in Venezuela”, saying the US’s actions “constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population”.* In an apparent reference to the Trump administration’s assertion that the US will “run” Venezuela and oversee oil production, the six governments also express concern “regarding any attempt at government control, administration, or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources”. The statement reads: We express our profound concern and rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally on Venezuelan territory, which contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition of the use and threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. These actions constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and put the civilian population at risk. We reiterate that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, by means of dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law. We reaffirm that only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic and sustainable solution that respects human dignity. We reaffirm the character of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, built on mutual respect, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-intervention, and we call for regional unity, beyond political differences, in the face of any action that jeopardises regional stability. We also urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Member States of the relevant multilateral mechanisms to use their good offices to contribute to de-escalating tensions and preserving regional peace. We express our concern regarding any attempt at government control, administration, or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources, which is incompatible with international law and threatens the political, economic, and social stability of the region.
