UNCERTAINTY OVER NEW BRICS+ MEMBERS

Venezuela’s inclusion in the growing Brics+ Alliance appears uncertain, according to Brazilian officials familiar with discussions at the United Nations last week.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Caracas was not included on a preliminary list of prospective invitees circulated by Russia among BRICS members during the UN General Assembly in New York.

Russia, which currently holds the BRICS chairmanship, is seeking consensus on which countries to invite as it prepares to host the bloc’s summit from October 22 to 24 in the Russian city of Kazan.

Caracas’ potential inclusion has reportedly caused discomfort in Brazil, following disputed elections in Venezuela in July that have strained relations between Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, and Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Brazil, along with many other regional and international actors, has repeatedly called for Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) to publish detailed voting records to back up the official results which saw the incumbent re-elected for another six-year term, but the Maduro-aligned body has refused to do so.

Brazilian officials have also reportedly vetoed the invitation of Nicaragua, a close Russian ally ruled by President Daniel Ortega, with whom Lula fell out earlier this year leading to the severance of diplomatic ties.

In August, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yván Gil announced that the country was actively participating in all BRICS group meetings and was “merely awaiting formal admission into the bloc.”

President Maduro warned the United States and its allies that he might transfer oil and gas blocks to BRICS countries, citing increased pressure from Washington over the recent election, which many view as marred by fraud.

Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Belarusian Foreign Minister, Maxim Ryzhenkov, suggested that at least ten new members could be added in the next round of expansion. Such members are reportedly expected to be added as partner nations rather than full members, according to a Russian official familiar with the plans.

However, Russia Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, told a news conference at the UN General Assembly that BRICS considers further expansion inappropriate for now. “At this stage all affiliated countries consider it reasonable not to make new decisions for the time being and to adapt the organization, an association of like-minded members. There were five of us, now there are ten. Of course, this requires some kind of habituation and smooth entry of new members into the work in line with the traditions that the quintet has developed over years,” said Lavrov.

More than 20 countries wish to become partners and about 10 more wish to maintain permanent contacts.

“I’m not in the position to predict what kind of agreement may be achieved, but it will be announced, of course,” Lavrov added.

BRICS countries currently represent about 46% of the world’s population and over 36% of global GDP, according to recent estimates by global financial institutions.

BRICS nations are also working on developing a joint payment and settlement framework for intra-group trade, as stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a recent bloc meeting.