Lula government rejects Venezuela’s entry into the BRICS summit

The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvadecided not to include the Venezuela on the list of countries invited to the next Brics meeting, which begins this Tuesday, 22nd, in Kazan, Russia.

According to information from Sheet, 12 countries were selected to participate in the event, but Nicolás Maduro’s administration was notably left out.

Countries invited to this meeting include Cuba, Bolivia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Indonesia, Nigeria, Uganda, Turkey and Belarus.

This selection was mainly coordinated by Russia, and although the list may still undergo changes, the exclusion of Venezuela is seen as a decision already consolidated among the BRICS members, according to discussions prior to the event.

Venezuela’s absence is considered a reflection of recent tensions between Brazil and the neighboring country, intensified after the Venezuelan elections, the results of which were widely questioned by several international organizations. The elections triggered exchanges of criticism between presidents Lula and Maduro, with the latter accusing Brazil of interfering in Venezuelan internal affairs.

President Lula will not personally participate in the meeting due to a recent accident at Palácio da Alvorada. In his place, Brazil will be represented by Chancellor Mauro Vieira, who had previously indicated the Brazilian position against Maduro’s invitation to the Brics meeting.

This decision is indicative of the geopolitical dynamics within the group and signals a strategic alignment, especially considering the influences of Russia and China on decisions related to guest countries.

In previous years, China managed to include Iran and Ethiopia on the last-minute guest list, while countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Argentina were also included on previous occasions.