Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva strongly condemned the US military actions in Venezuela as an "extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community", according to a statement he posted on X.

He described the operation as a "flagrant violation of international law" that could lead to "a world of violence, chaos and instability", and likened it to past interferences in Latin American politics that threaten regional peace.

The condemnation comes amid a broader international backlash following US President Trump's announcement of a large-scale military strike on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro on Jan 3.

Brazilian officials are reportedly discussing the situation in emergency meetings.