In the wake of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s threats to invade and “liberate” Puerto Rico using Brazilian troops, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on January 15 demanding a response.
“On Saturday, January 11, 2025, as he celebrated his illegitimate inauguration, Dictator Nicolás Maduro called upon the Brazilian military to invade U.S. territory. In calling for the “liberation” of Puerto Rico, Maduro blatantly incited war against the United States by means of the Brazilian state,” wrote Scott. “Such incitement cannot go unanswered.”
Maduro specified, in the remarks he made at the Antifascist Festival, that he would use Brazil’s troops to invade the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
“I call upon the Brazilian government to respond formally and clearly, and tell the hemisphere’s governments what your official response is to these dangerous threats,” Scott continued. “I hope the Brazilian government would agree that anyone who attempts to dismiss Maduro’s words as mere political rhetoric should be reminded that such commentary is far too serious and dangerous to go unchecked. Moreover, the government of Brazil has been impugned by Maduro’s reckless commentary because it suggests he thinks the Brazilian state would be interested in such military aggression.”
Responses
As of this writing, President Lula had not responded to Senator Scott’s letter. His party sent an envoy to Maduro’s inauguration, and the two South American presidents are widely held to be allies.
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon wrote on X, “Thank you @SenRickScott. Maduro’s call to invade Puerto Rico with Brazilian troops was not only a blatant threat of military aggression against the U.S., but also an incitement against peace and stability in our region. Brazilian President Lula must denounce and speak up against the Maduro narco-regime.”
Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) said, also on X, “Just like @SenRickScott said, @LulaOficial must come out and condemn the dictator Nicolás Maduro about invading Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans and Puerto Ricans alone are the only ones who can determine their future, not drug dictators.”
