CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has expressed strong defiance following Brazil’s veto of his country’s application to join the BRICS group, a coalition of emerging economies.
This rejection, announced at a recent summit in Kazan, Russia, has drawn fierce criticism from the Venezuelan government, which describes the move as “hostile” and “immoral.”
Venezuela is grappling with a severe economic crisis, which officials attribute largely to U.S. sanctions, reports Arab media.
Maduro’s administration has long sought membership in BRICS to gain international support and economic stability. Despite Brazil’s decision, Maduro asserted on state television that “no one will block or silence Venezuela, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”
The relationship between Maduro and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has faced challenges, particularly following Maduro’s controversial re-election in July. Lula’s former foreign minister, Celso Amorim, indicated that the veto was a result of a “breach of confidence,” referring to Maduro’s failure to disclose detailed electoral results, which the opposition claims would prove his defeat.
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In response to the veto, Maduro stated that he engaged with officials from “nearly 30 governments” in Kazan, all of whom purportedly recognized his electoral victory. As BRICS continues to expand—now including countries like Ethiopia, Iran, and Egypt—Venezuela’s aspirations for inclusion remain unresolved amidst these political tensions.
