Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's hopes of securing an invitation to join the BRICS bloc of emerging market countries have hit a roadblock, as sources reveal that his country is not on the preliminary list of invitees circulating among BRICS members at the United Nations this week.
Russia, which will host the upcoming BRICS summit, presented the initial list of potential invitees to members during the UN General Assembly in New York. While Venezuela had been actively seeking a BRICS invite to boost its global standing, it appears that consensus has not yet been reached among current members to extend an invitation.
The decision to exclude Venezuela comes amid growing tensions between Maduro and Brazil, a key member of the BRICS group. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has refused to recognize Maduro's controversial reelection in July, leading to strained relations between the two countries.
Brazil has also reportedly vetoed an invite to Nicaragua, another leftist ally of Lula, further highlighting the complexities surrounding BRICS expansion decisions. The upcoming summit in Kazan, where the final invite list is expected to be announced, could potentially bring more clarity to the situation.
While Venezuela remains hopeful of joining BRICS as a partner nation, the political landscape and diplomatic dynamics within the group continue to shape the discussions around potential new members. The absence of Venezuela and Nicaragua from the current list underscores the challenges faced by BRICS in balancing geopolitical interests and diplomatic relations in the region.