Maduro Asserts Venezuela Will Not Be Silenced Following Brazil’s Veto of BRICS Membership Bid
Nicolas Maduro declared that Venezuela will not be silenced after Brazil vetoed its bid to join BRICS. The Venezuelan president criticized the decision as hostile and emphasized his intentions to push through international recognition amid ongoing economic turmoil and political disputes concerning the legitimacy of his re-election.
On October 26, 2024, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asserted that his nation will not be silenced following Brazil’s veto of its application to join the BRICS consortium of emerging economies. This comes as Venezuela grapples with an extensive economic crisis, which the Venezuelan government attributes to United States sanctions, while simultaneously pursuing membership in BRICS. In response to Brazil’s veto at the summit held in Kazan, Russia, Maduro expressed his indignation, characterizing the rejection as a “hostile” and “immoral” move. Upon returning to Venezuela, during a broadcast on state television, he declared, “No one will block or silence Venezuela, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.” The relationship between Presidents Lula da Silva and Maduro has faced challenges, particularly following the contentious presidential election in July 2024, which the opposition alleges Maduro lost. Celso Amorim, an advisor to President Lula and former Foreign Minister of Brazil, indicated that the veto was in part due to a “breach of confidence” by the Venezuelan leader, who had reportedly committed to disclosing comprehensive electoral results that he has yet to release. The opposition claimed that these results would substantiate their assertion of Maduro’s defeat by Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who fled to Spain after facing arrest on what are considered politically motivated charges. Maduro reiterated that he met with representatives from nearly thirty governments during the Kazan summit, claiming that all affirmatively acknowledged his electoral success.
The BRICS group, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include nations such as Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024. President Nicolás Maduro has long aimed for Venezuela to be included in this bloc amid the country’s severe economic distress stemming from international sanctions, particularly from the United States. The recent veto by Brazil raises tensions between the two nations, especially given Brazil’s previous support for Maduro.
The events relating to Venezuela’s BRICS application reveal significant political strains between the Maduro administration and Brazil, a country that has traditionally aligned with it. The ongoing economic challenges in Venezuela, alongside allegations of electoral misconduct, complicate its international aspirations and highlight the delicate balance of regional politics in South America.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
