Venezuela shut its border with Brazil for a short time after a US strike on Caracas early in the morning. US troops also took President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The crossing from Pacaraima in Brazil to Santa Elena de Uairen in Venezuela stayed closed on the Venezuelan side for around five hours. This stopped people from going into Brazil. A Brazilian army officer shared this with Al Jazeera.
Venezuela gave no official rules on who could enter or leave. Brazilians can exit. Venezuelans face limits right now. Things might shift soon, the officer said. He stayed unnamed since he lacks permission to talk.
Brazil’s top Federal Police leader noted the short closure. Roraima’s governor told Reuters the border is open again.
Brazil’s leaders watch the border closely. They sent troops there to boost safety.
Brazil’s Defense Minister reports no odd events at the Brazil-Venezuela line. It stays under watch. He talks with Roraima’s governor, said the Foreign Ministry.
Venezuelans form Brazil’s biggest group of foreigners, per the geography institute. Roraima hosts 77,563 from Venezuela. Over eight million Venezuelans left home in ten years. More than six million went to other spots in Latin America.
An exodus to Brazil looks likely, said Jessica Leon Cedeno. She is a Venezuelan reporter in Sao Paulo who spoke to Al Jazeera. Signs of it show already.
Millions seek better lives and chances outside.
Lula warns US strikes may shake the region
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called US President Donald Trump’s moves in Venezuela wrong on Saturday.
Bombs on Venezuelan land and grabbing its leader go too far, Lula posted on X. These steps insult Venezuela’s control and set a bad example for all nations.
For months, Brazil’s leader pushed for calm as US forces grew near Venezuela’s shores.
Experts fear Maduro’s ouster could spark disorder. It might trigger fresh waves of people leaving, like in 2019 after a failed push against him.
Joao Carlos Jarochinski Silva teaches global ties at Roraima’s Federal University. He says any big move of people hinges on US plans inside Venezuela and fights from Maduro’s leftover team.
How strong is Chavismo in Venezuela? That group honors ex-leader Hugo Chavez. It could cause real problems, he said. Yet the scene now holds no panic.
Trump praises his troops’ work so far. He skips big aid issues. This year, his team slashed funds for USAID, the key US aid group. That hit Brazil and Colombia hard.
The US cuts aid cash these days, he noted. US strikes will bring fallout, like for refugees. Trump ignores that part.
