MEXICO CITY (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2019) Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao has rejected the possibility of Brazil taking part in any kind of a military operation against neighboring Venezuela, which has recently seen an escalation of its months-long political crisis, local media reported.
According to the Global news outlet, Mourao stressed on Wednesday that interference into internal affairs of other countries was not among the policies pursued by Brasilia.
At the same time, Brazil has joined at least a dozen other countries that recognized the authority of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself the country's interim leader on Wednesday after the Venezuelan National Assembly which he chairs adopted a statement declaring the country's incumbent president, Nicolas Maduro, an usurper.
Brazil has also been one the states, including the United States and the other Lima Group countries, that initially opposed Maduro's re-election as president last year, expressing their doubts over the legitimacy and fairness of the vote.
Meanwhile, mass rallies were organized in Venezuela late on Tuesday, both in support of Maduro and against him. Violence during the protests has reportedly claimed 16 lives already, and led to an estimated 218 arrests.
