The push for diplomacy came as many in both Colombia and Venezuela dismissed Chavez's words as an attempt to distract attention from domestic problems, including the struggling economy and water shortages and power blackouts.
Chavez has warned that troops he ordered to the Colombian border should be ready for a possible conflict if the U.S. attempts to provoke a war between the South American countries. He cited a recent deal between Bogota and Washington giving U.S. troops greater access to Colombian military bases as a threat to regional stability.
Brazil's defense minister, Nelson Jobim, played down the risk of an armed conflict.
''We believe that everything can be resolved with dialogue,'' Jobim said in Brasilia. ''I don't think the tension is going to increase; it's part of the rhetoric of the continent.''
In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said: ''We are very much aware of recent tensions along the Venezuelan-Colombia border.''
''I certainly don't think this is about the United States,'' Crowley added. ''But we certainly would encourage dialogue between Venezuela and Colombia and a peaceful resolution of the situation along their border.''
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