Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has voiced optimism about his country becoming a full member of BRICS during the next summit in 2024. Emphasizing the significance of BRICS as “the future of humanity,” Maduro highlighted the economic potential of the group and the capabilities of the New BRICS Development Bank.
“At the summit in South Africa, Venezuela was accepted as a partner. And I hope that at the next summit in Russia <…> Venezuela will join BRICS+ as a permanent member,” stated Maduro during a recent interview with the newspaper Le Monde diplomatique.
The Venezuelan leader sees BRICS as a pivotal player in shaping a new global order, aligning with the Bolivarian geopolitical concept. Maduro believes in a world of balance and equality, emphasizing BRICS as a key element in this vision.
BRICS, originally formed in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China, welcomed South Africa in 2011. In August 2023, six new members, including Argentina, were invited, but Argentina declined to join by the end of December. As of January 1, five new members (Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia) have officially started their full-fledged participation in BRICS under Russia’s chairmanship.