Brazil supports Venezuela's entry into BRICS

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Congresswoman Cilia Flores, were received with honours on Monday by Brazilian President Lula da Silva and first lady Rosangela da Silva at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, as reported by teleSUR, a partner of TV BRICS.

At a press conference after the private meeting, Lula said he supports Venezuela's admission to BRICS, an international cooperation forum that includes the world's largest emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

"Yes, we aspire, we want to be part of BRICS. And to accompany the construction of this new world geopolitics. We need to build this new geopolitics, which has fundamental components. South America's union, despite the (political) diversities together with the BRICS, five powerful countries that are becoming a great magnet for those who seek a world of peace and cooperation," said Maduro.

For his part, President Lula said he was in favour of the idea. "If you ask what I think, then I will say that I am in favour of it," Lula said at the press conference. At the same time, such initiatives should be coordinated by all countries, added the Brazilian president.

On Tuesday, Lula will lead a regional summit, which will also be attended by the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Uruguay.

Lula and Maduro will have a private meeting. In addition to addressing bilateral issues, the two leaders will analyse the process of internal dialogue in Venezuela, which takes place in the context of the 2024 elections.

The BRICS is an association of the world's leading developing economies that was formed in 2006 to enhance cooperation among member countries and develop common approaches to global economic challenges. Several other countries plan to join the economic bloc, including Argentina, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Photo: teleSUR