- Venezuela blasts Brazil over Brics membership block
- Brazil blocked Venezuela amid doubts around the legitimacy of Venezuela July elections
- Venezuela joining Brics was backed by Russia’s Putin
Venezuela blasts Brazil over Brics membership block
Venezuela has sharply criticised Brazil’s veto of its bid to join the Brics group, calling it an “immoral aggression.” The decision, made during the Brics summit in Russia, has strained relations between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Tensions have risen since Venezuela’s July presidential election, in which Maduro claimed victory despite reports suggesting opposition candidate Edmundo González won by a landslide. Though Lula initially backed Maduro, he withdrew support pending a full vote breakdown, aligning with international doubts over the results.
Venezuela, which has lobbied to join Brics, was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who stated Venezuela was “fighting for its survival.” However, consensus among all Brics members—including Brazil—is needed for admission, which has kept Venezuela out.
Lula, a strong advocate for Brics as a force for global reform, supports its expansion but argues that existing internal divisions—like conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, and China and India—pose significant challenges.