The BRICS group of nations represents “humanity’s future” due to its sheer economic power, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has argued.
Maduro also claimed that his fellow Latin American leader, Argentinian President Javier Milei, had shot his own country in the foot by turning down an invitation to join.
On January 1, the BRICS, originally comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia into its ranks. However, Milei, who assumed office in December 2023, has made a U-turn on his predecessor Alberto Fernandez’ plans for membership.
In an interview with the Spanish-language edition of Le Monde Diplomatique on Monday, Maduro said that the decision was “one of the clumsiest and stupidest things Milei has done against Argentina.”
According to the Venezuelan leader, the new president in Buenos Aires has taken his country back to the 19th century and is turning it into a “vassal of the imperial unipolar world.”
As for Venezuela, Maduro expressed hope that it would be accepted as a permanent member of BRICS+ at the next summit in Russia in October 2024. Caracas expects to acquire full membership in BRICS proper “sooner rather than later,” he said.
Maduro explained that the bloc’s concept and worldview are congruent with those of Venezuela. Moreover, the president noted that his government hopes to attract more investment and find new markets for its own goods with the help of BRICS.
Last Friday, Milei’s spokesperson Manuel Adorni confirmed media reports that Buenos Aires had sent formal letters to all five founding members of BRICS. The messages, which several outlets claim to have seen, clarified that the new Argentinian government does not consider BRICS membership “appropriate at this time.”
Russia has assumed the one-year rotating presidency of the group for 2024. In a statement released on Monday, Russia President Vladimir Putin vowed to “facilitate the harmonious integration” of new partners, noting that around 30 countries had expressed a desire to participate in the bloc’s agenda in one form or another.
“To this end, we will start working on the modalities of a new category of BRICS partner country,” Putin added.
According to the IMF, the expanded BRICS now accounts for 36% of global GDP in terms of purchasing power parity, surpassing that of the G7, an informal grouping of Western countries.
Russia Outlines Future Vision For BRICS
BRICS should not be transformed from a gathering of states into a full-fledged organization with a secretariat, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. In an interview, Sergey Lavrov said “BRICS is not an organization, but an association.”
The Russia Foreign Minister noted that he doesn’t think anyone has any interest in turning it into “a real organization with a secretariat,” adding that “this is not necessary, at least at this stage” and in his opinion will not be needed “for a relatively long time.”
The minister called the association “a future umbrella” noting that BRICS is “a symbol and the desire of the world’s majority developing their initiatives, taking into account each other’s interests.”
Grab A Coffee
“There are no organizations in the West that have fair rules in the sense of equality and genuine consensus,” Lavrov added, recalling a recent episode in which German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reportedly told Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to “grab a coffee” at a key meeting of EU leaders in Brussels so that he would not veto a motion to begin formal accession talks with Ukraine.
Russia will preside over BRICS in 2024.
Argentina said it will not be joining BRICS as planned; Argentine President Javier Milei has expressed a reluctance to support economic ties with China and Brazil and is planning to work toward economic rapprochement with the US and Israel.
In total, more than 40 countries have so far expressed interest in joining BRICS, according to 2023 chair South Africa. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in early October that BRICS plans to compile a list of candidates for the union’s partner-state status ahead of the upcoming summit in the Russian city of Kazan in 2024. According to the official, one of the priorities of Russia’s chairmanship in BRICS next year will be focusing on expanding the “circle of BRICS friends” further, including countries in Latin America as well as the increase of payments in national currencies.
In an interview with the China Media Group in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said BRICS was being expanded in accordance with the global multipolarity principle. According to Putin, no nation wants to be on the sidelines and act on the whim of “some sovereign,” and BRICS is a platform where countries can relate to one another as equals.
