Kazan, Russia: Venezuela has sharply criticised Brazil’s decision to veto its application to join the Brics membership of emerging economies, calling it an “immoral aggression” and accusing Brasilia of fostering Western “hatred, exclusion, and intolerance.” The rejection, declared during a Brics summit in Russia, has additionally strained relations between the two left-wing governments following Venezuela’s disputed presidential election in July.
After initially backing President Nicolas Maduro, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva later withdrew consent, instructing a transparent vote breakdown with international assertions that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won by a large margin. Despite widespread scepticism, several foreign governments have refrained from recognising Gonzalez as Venezuela’s president.
Maduro’s administration had campaigned vigorously for Brics membership, with the Venezuelan leader making an unannounced appearance in Kazan, where he stated Venezuela was “part of the Brics family.” Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced support for Venezuela but acknowledged the veto, noting that the Brics membership demands unanimous backing from all members.
While Lula champions Brics as a route to global governance reform, observers argue the bloc faces internal challenges that hinder unity, including Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and friction between China and India. The Brics summit stressed such divisions, with Putin emphasising Brics as a counterbalance to Western influence despite growing strains between Brasilia and Caracas.
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