Venezuela and Nicaragua are left out of the BRICS – Diario La Página –

Venezuela and Nicaragua have been excluded from the list of possible new members of the BRICS group, according to Brazilian media. The decision, according to what they say, seems to be influenced by pressure from the Brazilian government, headed by Lula da Silva, who would have expressed his discontent with Nicolás Maduro, especially after his controversial and irregular re-election.

Although there was no formal veto, sources indicate that Russia took Lula’s discomfort into account. This decision is a blow to the aspirations of Maduro, who sought to strengthen Venezuela’s international position.

The BRICS bloc, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is in the process of expansion, but Venezuela has not been considered to join the list of new partners, such as Egypt, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which were accepted.

The list includes Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The leaders of the BRICS member countries, who are in Russia, will discuss the accession of each of those included on the list during a dinner.

It is not yet defined whether all of them will actually become part of the Brics group of partners. According to the media, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva indicated to his international coordination team that Brazil should adopt a position against Venezuela’s entry into the BRICS. The same message was given by the special advisor to the Presidency of the Republic and former chancellor, Celso Amorim, who spoke out against the accession.

Lula was expected at the Brics summit, but did not travel due to medical advice, after falling in the bathroom of his house and hitting his head. Despite the incident, the president is in good health.