US, Brazil Not Mulling Use of Military Force in Venezuela - Reports

"That's not a hypothesis we're considering. Brazil is looking forward to a peaceful and swift solution to the crisis in Venezuela", Fernando Azevedo was quoted as saying by Reuters as he met his American counterpart at the Pentagon.

Last Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said he would discuss with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro the possibility of military intervention in Venezuela, adding that all options remain on the table.

READ MORE: Venezuela Minister Posts PHOTOS of 'Attacked Power Plant' to Show Blackout Cause

However, US Special Envoy for Venezuela Elliot Abrams denied earlier that the Trump administration was pursuing the path of military intervention in Venezuela. Similarly, US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said in a congressional hearing on Tuesday that Washington is not seeking to reach a military resolution of the crisis there.

Long-standing tensions between the United States and Venezuela escalated earlier this year when opposition leader Juan Guaido on 23 January proclaimed himself to be the country’s interim president. The United States and its allies immediately recognized Guaido. Russia, China, Mexico, Turkey and several other countries continue to recognize constitutionally elected Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the country’s only legitimate leader.

Maduro has called Guaido a puppet of the United States and has accused Washington of attempting to conduct a coup d’etat in Venezuela.

READ MORE: Venezuela’s Maduro Announces Capture of Colombian Paramilitary Chief

Earlier in March, Venezuela suffered its worst power outage in history, when as many as 20 states were left without power. Venezuela's national electricity supplier, Corpoelec, said that the incident had been caused by an act of "sabotage" at the Guri hydroelectric power plant, which generates electricity for nearly all of the country.

Caracas also accused Washington, which is supporting the country's opposition seeking to oust Maduro, of standing behind the alleged attack on the country's main electricity grid. The United States denies the accusations.