By Laiz Rodrigues-Editor
January 3, 2026 – As the dust settles from the bold U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, conservatives around the world are celebrating not just the end of a tyrannical regime but also the potential for long-overdue accountability. For years, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been a vocal champion in exposing one of the most egregious examples of socialist waste: Venezuela’s staggering unpaid debt to Brazil, amounting to billions of dollars. This isn’t just a financial footnote—it’s a symbol of how leftist alliances squandered hardworking Brazilians’ money to prop up a failing dictatorship. With Maduro out of power and a path to freedom opening in Venezuela, now is the time for resolute action to recover every penny owed and ensure such mistakes are never repeated.
The roots of this debt trace back to the early 2000s, during the height of leftist governance in Brazil under Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff. In a misguided show of “South-South solidarity,” Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES) extended massive loans to Venezuela for infrastructure projects. These included building subways in Caracas, hydroelectric plants, steel mills, and other developments carried out by Brazilian construction giants like Odebrecht and Andrade Gutierrez. The idea was sold as a win-win: boosting Brazilian exports while aiding a fellow leftist nation. But in reality, it was a reckless giveaway, funded by Brazilian taxpayers through government guarantees.
When Maduro’s regime inevitably defaulted on payments starting in 2018—amid economic collapse, hyperinflation, and corruption—Brazil was left holding the bag. The Export Guarantee Fund, backed by public money, had to step in to cover the losses for Brazilian banks and companies. This wasn’t pocket change; the debt ballooned due to unpaid principal, accumulating interest, and penalties. By late 2025, official figures from Brazil’s Ministry of Finance pegged the total at over $1.8 billion USD, equivalent to roughly 10 billion Brazilian reais. That’s money that could have built hospitals, schools, or roads in Brazil instead of vanishing into the black hole of Venezuelan socialism.
Bolsonaro, a true conservative warrior, never let this issue fade. During his presidency from 2019 to 2022, he repeatedly called out the debt as a “scandal” orchestrated by his predecessors. “Venezuela owes us millions—actually, billions—and we’re paying the price for bad deals made by the left,” he declared in multiple speeches and interviews. He was spot on. These loans were part of a broader pattern of ideological favoritism, where Brazil poured resources into Hugo Chávez’s and later Maduro’s regime, ignoring warning signs of mismanagement and authoritarianism. Bolsonaro’s administration even pursued legal avenues to recover the funds, freezing Venezuelan assets in Brazil and demanding repayment through international forums. His stance resonated with conservatives who value fiscal responsibility, national sovereignty, and putting Brazil first.
Critics on the left might downplay this as old news or blame external factors like U.S. sanctions, but that’s nonsense. The debt predates many sanctions and stems directly from Venezuela’s own policies: nationalizing industries, driving away investors, and prioritizing regime cronies over economic sense. Maduro’s government turned one of South America’s richest nations into a beggar state, reliant on handouts from allies like Russia, China, and yes, Brazil. Meanwhile, millions of Venezuelans fled poverty, straining Brazil’s borders and resources. Bolsonaro rightly saw this as an affront to Brazilian sovereignty—why should ordinary families in São Paulo or Rio subsidize a dictator’s failures?
Now, with Maduro captured and facing justice in the U.S. for narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, the stage is set for resolution. President Donald Trump’s decisive intervention not only liberates Venezuela but also aligns with conservative principles of combating crime and promoting democracy. Trump has pledged to oversee a safe transition, recognizing opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia as the rightful winner of the 2024 election. This new government, potentially led by figures like Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, must prioritize repaying debts as a sign of good faith and responsibility.
For Brazil, under its current leadership, this is an opportunity to demand what’s owed. Imagine redirecting those billions back home: investing in border security to handle migrant flows, bolstering the military against regional threats, or cutting taxes to empower families and businesses. Conservatives in Brazil, inspired by Bolsonaro’s legacy, should push for aggressive negotiations—perhaps seizing Venezuelan oil assets or leveraging international courts. No more excuses; it’s time for Venezuela to make amends.
This debt saga underscores a timeless conservative truth: socialism breeds dependency and debt, while free markets and accountable governance build prosperity. Bolsonaro’s warnings were prophetic, and Trump’s action proves that strong leadership gets results. As Venezuela turns the page, let us resolve to hold accountable those who enabled this mess and ensure Brazil’s interests are fiercely protected. The era of leftist giveaways is over—justice and repayment must prevail. God bless Brazil, and may a free Venezuela rise to honor its obligations.
