Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that China would stand firmly by Brazil and the broader Global South amid what he described as a turbulent international environment. Speaking in a telephone call, Xi urged both countries to safeguard shared interests and uphold the role of the United Nations, presenting China and Brazil as key defenders of multilateralism.
Xi’s remarks came shortly after Lula publicly criticised the U.S. military attack on Venezuela in an opinion piece, linking the call directly to rising geopolitical tensions in the Western Hemisphere.
Trigger: Venezuela Crisis
The call followed the Trump administration’s seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for prosecution in the United States on narcotics charges, an action that plunged Venezuela into political uncertainty. The move has unsettled Latin America, where governments fear it could set a precedent for foreign intervention.
Lula argued that Venezuela’s future should be decided by its own people and warned that major powers cannot rely solely on fear and coercion. He described the U.S. operation as unprecedented in South America’s modern history, despite earlier interventions by American forces in the region.
Regional Anxiety and Global Criticism
The U.S. action has intensified fears across Latin America about sovereignty and intervention. The United Nations criticised Washington’s conduct, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning that the principles of state equality and international law were under threat.
These concerns reflect a broader unease about the return of hard-power politics, particularly in regions historically sensitive to external вмешательство.
China’s Expanding Role in Latin America
Xi used the call to emphasise China’s commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean, portraying Beijing as a reliable partner. He highlighted a 2024 strategic partnership aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Brazil’s plans in agriculture, infrastructure and energy transition, framing it as a model of Global South cooperation.
China also reiterated its ambition to build a China–Latin America community with a shared future, signalling a long-term political and economic alignment beyond traditional Western partnerships.
At the same time, U.S. actions in Venezuela threaten to complicate China’s influence in the region, where Beijing has invested heavily through credit lines and infrastructure projects.
Spillover into Global Alliances
The crisis is not limited to Latin America. Trump’s threat to use force to acquire Greenland has also strained relations with U.S. allies in Europe, reinforcing perceptions that Washington is increasingly willing to bypass diplomatic norms even with partners.
Together, these developments are reshaping how both allies and developing countries perceive U.S. power and global leadership.
Analysis: China Turns U.S. Intervention into Strategic Leverage
Xi’s call to Lula reflects more than diplomatic courtesy it signals China’s attempt to reposition itself as the political and moral counterweight to U.S. interventionism. By emphasising sovereignty, multilateralism and Global South solidarity, Beijing is exploiting the fallout from Washington’s actions in Venezuela to strengthen its narrative as a defender of international order.
The timing is crucial. As Latin American countries grow wary of U.S. coercive power, China is presenting itself as a stabilising partner that respects national autonomy while offering economic support. This strategy allows Beijing to deepen influence without direct confrontation, expanding its footprint in a region traditionally dominated by the United States.
Yet this alignment is not purely ideological. China’s rhetoric of solidarity also serves pragmatic goals: securing markets, resources and geopolitical leverage. The episode therefore highlights a broader shift in global politics, where competition between major powers is increasingly fought not only through military and economic tools, but through narratives about sovereignty, legitimacy and the future of global order.
With information from Reuters.
