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Multiple world leaders are now calling on the United States and Venezuela to de-escalate rising tensions and pursue a peaceful, diplomatic resolution amid an intensifying standoff between the two countries.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: Just to run you through a brief timeline, tensions between the United States and Venezuela started escalating about three months ago when the Trump administration began amassing military forces in the Caribbean under the stated goal of counter-narcotics operations. This included the deployment of roughly 15,000 troops, fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and major naval assets like the USS Gerald Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world. Though initially justified as a crackdown on drug trafficking, Trump has since admitted that the true motivation extends far beyond narcotics and instead centers on oil. He accused Venezuela of illegally seizing US-developed oil fields after the country nationalized its oil fields in 2007 and has since vowed to take back “our oil.” From the beginning, Venezuela argued that the military buildup was always about oil and regime change, warning that the US was using the pretext of drug enforcement to justify economic warfare and potential military intervention.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have all issued public warnings about the escalating situation, urging both countries to step back from the brink of an all-out war. Through his spokesperson Farhan Haq, Guterres called for “restraint and immediate de-escalation,” adding that “any difference must be resolved by peaceful means” and urging both nations to “honor their obligations under international law, including the UN Charter.” Guterres also held a direct phone call with Nicolás Maduro, where he raised the UN’s concern over rising tensions.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum took a more pointed tone, calling out the United Nations itself for failing to do more. “The United Nations has been conspicuously absent,” she said during a morning press conference. “It must assume its role to prevent any bloodshed and to always seek the peaceful resolution of conflicts.” Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s constitutional position against foreign interference and added, “We call for dialogue and peace to be used in any international dispute, and not intervention.”

She also offered Mexico as a neutral venue for potential negotiations between the US and Venezuela, stressing that “the entire world must ensure that there is no intervention and that there is a peaceful solution.”

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva echoed these concerns and offered Brazil’s assistance in mediating a peaceful resolution. “I told Trump: ‘If you are interested in talking on good terms with Venezuela, we can contribute. Now, you have to be willing to talk. You have to have patience,’” Lula revealed. He added, “The power of words can be worth more than the power of weapons. It costs less and takes less time if you are willing to do it.” Lula also warned that it would be a mistake for the US to think it could resolve this through force alone.

China also weighed in, aligning itself with Venezuela and denouncing the US blockade. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Venezuelan counterpart that China opposes “unilateral bullying” and supports countries in defending their sovereignty.