Since its endeavour to join BRICS was vetoed by Brazil at the latest meeting of the trading bloc in Kazan, Russia last week, Venezuela’s government has undertaken a series of provocations against its South American neighbour, including calling back its ambassador in Brasília. So far, however, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro – who followed the summit last week – has not spoken out directly against his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – who was unable to observe because of a recent wound, and sent his Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira instead.
“I prefer to wait for Lula, once he is well informed of events as head of state, to say what he has to say in due course,”
stated Maduro. He instead went on the criticize Brazil’s Foreign Ministry, stating,
“It has always conspired against Venezuela. It is a foreign ministry closely related to the US State Department, since the time of the coup d’état against João Goulart.”
Before Maduro’s statements, the Venezuelan government had already given a statement signed by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling Brazil’s move an
“inexplicable aggression, breeding the hatred and intolerance encouraged by Western power centres.”
Facing climbing US sanctions, Maduro has pushed strongly for Venezuela’s entry into the trade group, even travelling to Kazan for the BRICS summit and assembling with Russian President Vladimir Putin on its sidelines. He also addressed the plenary session and stated,
“The BRICS can count on Venezuela and all our revolutionary forces.”
Despite Maduro’s display of affection for the trade bloc, Brazil has effectively barred its entry thus far. Brazil’s decision derives from concerns over Venezuela’s lack of transparency. In its July presidential elections, Maduro was re-elected, which was a widely debated result. Under previous governments, Brazil had mostly evaded questioning Venezuelan election results.
Once Maduro declined to turn over vote tabulations to approve election results, however, Brazil would join the US, the European Union, and several Latin American countries in denying to recognize Maduro’s re-election. The controversy over Venezuela’s recent election is additionally strained by what Brazil senses as Venezuela’s violation of the Barbados Agreements.
Marked in October 2023 by Maduro and opposition leaders, the arrangements set out procedures for a transparent election, with conditions for international observers, press freedom, and fair access to candidacy. Yet in March, the Venezuelan administration stopped opposition candidate Corina Yoris from driving, prompting Brazil’s Foreign Ministry to voice concern over what it noticed as a violation of the arrangement.
