Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro said Monday night that following his regime’s fake presidential “election” on July 28, Venezuela could be admitted to the China-led BRICS economic and security bloc. He claimed that there was.
President Maduro also said that an “electoral” victory (almost certain given the dictatorship’s complete control of the electoral process) would mean that left-wing US President Joe Biden would again lift oil and gas sanctions on the country. I expected it to be possible.
Maduro claimed In his weekly television show, At Maduro Plus, He said he would “win” the upcoming sham election and that his victory would send a “very strong message” that the United States would lift all sanctions imposed on him and his socialist government. On July 28, President Maduro defeated a small number of pre-approved “opposition” rivals and a little-known 74-year-old diplomat, Ejimdo González, who was given the only legal opposition status on the ballot. He will “run” against Mr. Urrutia.
Venezuelan Presidential Candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia Posing for a photo during an interview with AFP in Caracas on April 24, 2024 (Ronaldo Pena/AFP via Getty Images)
González Urrutia’s candidacy was initially announced asplaceholder” The nature of the case if the opposition’s front-runner, Maria Colina Machado, is allowed to run. Maduro’s government has barred Machado from running for any public office.
maria corina machado Protests against the “new constitutional coup” in Caracas, Venezuela, October 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
“With the strength shown by these people after the July 28 elections, we will send such a strong message to the world and create the miracle of direct dialogue with the United States, that they will have to lift the sanctions,” President Maduro declared.
Biden unsuccessfully tried to induce Maduro’s government to hold “free and fair” presidential elections in 2024, and in October 2023 temporarily lifted oil and gas sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA. did. The sanctions were originally imposed in 2019. It was carried out under former President Donald Trump’s administration in response to the Maduro regime’s continued human rights abuses against its own people.
Although the sanctions relief package did not produce the results that President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had hoped for (the Maduro regime refused to accept the idea of free elections in Venezuela), the Biden administration possibility President Maduro could lift sanctions again if he takes “meaningful steps” towards holding “free and fair” elections.
US President Joe Biden (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Maduro also commented broadly on BRICS, saying his administration was working “eagerly” to become part of the bloc.
“God’s timing is perfect. BRICS is a new world without hegemony. They are a new power bloc led by a commander. [Hugo] Chavez dreamed,” Maduro said. Said“Venezuela is on a path towards the inclusion and organic collaboration of new global forces, and we have outlined it very clearly.”
Russia, which currently holds the annual rotating chair of BRICS, is scheduled to host the next BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan from October 22-24, 2024. President Maduro has tried unsuccessfully to join BRICS for nearly a decade. updated His rogue socialist government plans to activate the group in August 2023. expanded Six new countries have joined: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Argentina. However, Saudi Arabia has not formally recognized membership, and Argentina will not be allowed to join until December 2023, when President Javier Millay takes office. I refused Invitation to participate.
President Maduro has repeatedly courted the BRICS by providing Venezuela with the world’s largest oil reserves. Estimation Over 300 billion barrels. Additionally, the socialist dictator is trying to attract investment from BRICS countries to shore up Venezuela’s economy, which has fallen into instability after more than two decades of socialist misrule.
“The financing process of large investors from BRICS countries. I will call on BRICS countries to come and invest in the fields of Venezuela and to come and produce in the country,” President Maduro said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Caracas said in February after talks with President Maduro that Russia would use its position as BRICS chairman in 2024 to facilitate Venezuela’s membership.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
