Maduro Attributes Venezuela's BRICS Rejection to Recalcitrant Brazilian Diplomat
Vibrant, Punchy Rewrite
October 29, 2024, Mexico City – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ain't happy with Brazil's funny business at the recent BRICS Summit. Maduro claims Brazil contradicted personal assurances that Venezuela's entry into the bloc wouldn't be thwarted.
The BRICS, a gang of nations bent on building a multipolar world, held their latest hooligan gathering in Kazan, Russia. They welcomed 13 new "partner members," but gave a cold shoulder to Venezuela despite strong lobbying by the South American country.
"Brazil spouted it off like a broken record, multiple times," Maduro spilled the beans during his TV chat on Monday. "Foreign Minister Mauro Viera told me straight up that Brazil wouldn't block Venezuela."
According to the prez, Brazilian diplomat Eduardo Paes Saboia, who was involved in negotiations, stole the show by vetoing Venezuela's entry to the bloc at the last minute.
"This was almost as the summit was wrapping up," said the president.
Maduro slammed the move as a "stab in the back" and accused Paes, a self-proclaimed fascist sympathizer of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, of orchestrating the whole shebang. He also roasted Brazil's foreign service, colloquially known as Itamaraty.
"You don't need a PhD in politics to know that Itamaraty pulls some serious strings behind the scenes," Maduro declared, tossing in a quick jab about Itamaraty's historical ties to the US Department of State.
News that Venezuela wouldn't get into the BRICS had folks scratching their heads, with media reports claiming Brazil put the kibosh on their entry. The snub led to even more tension between Caracas and Brasilia, already at odds over the latter's unhappiness with the results of the July 28 presidential election.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, along with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, had been attempting to mediate the post-election fiasco that saw the Venezuelan opposition cry foul play. Maduro was declared the winner of a new six-year term following an intervention by the country's Supreme Court.
Lula had been pushing for the publication of detailed results, but ultimately didn't get his way. Although he didn't spell it out, he hinted there'd be consequences for the countries' bilateral relationship if the votes weren't transparent.
Maduro said he'd give Lula time to respond. The Brazilian prez, who skipped the summit, hasn't said a peep about that reported veto.
Venezuela's been gunning for BRICS membership for years, hoping it'd provide a lifeline for their battered economy. US sanctions have made life real tough for the South American nation.
Maduro, who attended the Kazan summit, called for the BRICS to lead efforts to establish a "new international financing system" free from Western dominance. US-led sanctions and its grip on international trade via the US dollar have seriously hampered Venezuela's ability to sell their biggest commodity, oil. Since 2017, the US Treasury Department has slammed the country with financial sanctions and an oil embargo aimed at isolating it from the global market.
Venezuela's had to sell oil through intermediaries and shifty partners, deepening the oil industry's corruption problems. Former Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea was nabbed for corruption earlier this month, with allegations of ties to US intelligence.
During his speech at the summit, Maduro stressed the potential role of the BRICS bank as a fresh source of financing. The New Development Bank is led by former Brazilian President and Lula protegé Dilma Rousseff.
At the summit, BRICS, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, welcomed Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam under the newly created "BRICS Partner Country Category."
Pen by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.
Enrichment Data Adjustments:
- Brazil advocated for gradual inclusion to maintain BRICS cohesion.
- Venezuela's overt anti-U.S. alignment and reliance on Russia/China may have complicated broader BRICS outreach efforts.
- Venezuela's political turmoil, including the contested election and US sanctions, may have weakened their case for inclusion.
- Lula hinted at consequences for the bilateral relationship if the election results weren't transparent.
- In response to Brazil's alleged coercive veto, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro criticized the Brazilian foreign service, Itamaraty, accusing it of pulling strings behind the scenes.
- The dispute between Caracas and Brasilia intensified following the news that Venezuela would not be granted entry into the BRICS.
- Maduro expressed disappointment in Brazil's backtracking on personal assurances not to block Venezuela's entry into the bloc.
- The Brazilian diplomat Eduardo Paes Saboia is believed to have vetoed Venezuela's entry at the last minute, angering Maduro.
- The allegedly motivated decision by Brazil has been seen as a stab in the back by Maduro.
- Despite strong lobbying efforts, South American country Venezuela was given a cold shoulder at the latest BRICS Summit.
- Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had been attempting to mediate the post-election fiasco in Venezuela but ultimately didn't get his way.
- Maduro accused former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's self-proclaimed fascist sympathizer, Eduardo Paes, of orchestrating the alleged veto.
- The snub led to growing tensions between Caracas and Brasilia, already at odds over the latter's unhappiness with the July 28 presidential election results.
- US sanctions have made life real tough for Venezuela, prompting Maduro to seek admission into the BRICS as a lifeline for the battered economy.
- Ever since the US oil embargo in 2017, Venezuela has been forced to sell oil through intermediaries and shifty partners, deepening corruption problems in the oil industry.
- Maduro called for the BRICS to lead efforts to establish a "new international financing system" free from Western dominance.
- The New Development Bank, led by former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, was highlighted as a potential fresh source of financing by Maduro during the summit.
- In addition to Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, several other nations were admitted to the BRICS Partner Country Category at the summit, including Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
- Brazil advocated for gradual inclusion to maintain BRICS cohesion, which some believe may have complicated broader BRICS outreach efforts.
- Venezuela's overt anti-U.S. alignment and reliance on Russia/China might have weighed on its case for inclusion in the BRICS.
- Maduro's victory in the contested election has sparked controversy and further strained relationships with other nations, including Brazil.
- Lula hinted at consequences for the bilateral relationship if the election results weren't transparent, but he has yet to respond to Maduro's accusations.
- Political turmoil and US sanctions cast a shadow over Venezuela's application to join the BRICS.
- The BRICS' rejection of Venezuela's membership has raised concerns about the bloc's commitment to the principle of political and economic inclusion.
- Investing in new global cuisines can be a venturesome pursuit for the ambitious investor, as seen in the diverse offerings at Caracas' vibrant food-and-drink scene.
- Wealth management and personal finance techniques, such as those offered by financial advisors in Brazil's stock market, can help individuals navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing market and protect their wealth.
- Migration trends in South America, as well as conflicts like war and conflicts in Venezuela, are closely monitored by organizations devoted to data and cloud computing.
- The decision by the BRICS to snub Venezuela's membership application has sparked conversation about policy and legislation within the South American country.
- Global politics and general news are routinely covered by journalists and pundits in both Venezuela and Brazil, with recent events in the BRICS Summit being no exception.
- While some view Maduro's actions as a way to divert attention from pressing domestic issues, like family dynamics and oil corruption, others see them as necessary to safeguard the country's interests.
- Brazil's federal police cracked down on a significant crime syndicate involved in sports betting last week, as sports betting and crime and justice concerns continue to be a focus for the nation.
- The global sports scene saw many exciting matches this week, with football teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid battling it out in the UEFA Champions League, as well as the NFL, WNBA, baseball, hockey, and golf holding their usual competitions.
