Brazilian President Lula defends Venezuela’s entry into the BRICS

By Mateus Maia

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said this Monday (29) that he favors Venezuela joining the BRICS – a group formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The declaration was made after the meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at the Planalto Palace.

Asked, Lula, however, said that the decision depends on a formal request from Venezuela and the will of all the countries in the group.

“We will discuss. If there is an official request, this request will be officially taken to the BRICS. I am in favor of it,” said the Brazilian presidential candidate.

Watch the moment (6:21 min.):

Maduro, for his part, said there is interest in participating in the Brics “someday.”

“If you ask Venezuela: ‘Do you aspire to be part of the BRICs someday? Yes, we want to be part of the Brics modestly. But yes. To be part of the BRICs and accompany the construction of this new architecture, of this new world geopolitics, of this new world that is in front of us”, said the Venezuelan president.

He declared that the BRICS are currently the world’s “magnet” for investments, even mentioning that there are a great number of requests to join the group and the BRICS Bank, citing the ongoing negotiations for the entrance of Saudi Arabia and former president Dilma Rousseff (PT), who commands the NDB (New Development Bank).

“It is one of the subjects we discussed, the role of the BRICS and its emergence in the face of the new world geopolitics.”

“It is geopolitics that has emerged from this resolution of conflicts and will bring new designs to the world, which will bring new poles, centers of political, economic, social, cultural, and military power.”

“This world that is being designed and that can bring a united South America”, he said.

Watch the joint statement by Lula and Maduro (49:34 min.)

With information from UOL

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