The group will hold a summit in Johannesburg from August 22-24. The meeting will have on hand a list of other nations seeking to join the group.
“Probably, in this meeting, we can decide by consensus which countries can join the BRICS,” Lula told reporters in the capital Brasilia. “I am of the opinion that how many countries want to enter, if they comply with the rules that we are establishing, we will accept their entry.”
Lula’s comments came hours after Reuters reported that Brazil had refused to accept new members to the group. She published statements by unnamed Brazilian diplomats, who expressed concerns that adding more countries to the group could lessen the influence of current members.
About 20 countries have formally applied to join the bloc, Mauro Vieira, Brazil’s foreign minister, said after Lula’s session with reporters. He pointed out that among them are: Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran and Venezuela.
Vieira commented that all the BRICS members are interested in making an effort to accept the incorporation of other countries, but that the parameters for their entry must still be discussed and that there must be a mutual agreement between the leaders.
The summit in Johannesburg will take place as China and Russia, facing isolation from the United States and the European Union, seek to expand their economic influence in developing countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in the summit via video calls, while the other heads of state are expected to attend in person.
Since he took office, Lula has repeatedly opposed the existing international structure dominated by Western countries.
He has rejected the US and EU position to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, has refused to provide weapons to Ukrainian forces and has pushed for peace talks to end the war.
Lula has called for an end to the dominance of the US dollar in international trade and has supported a common currency for trade within the South American bloc Mercosur and for trade among BRICS member nations. He has also lashed out at the International Monetary Fund.
Lula reiterated all those positions on Wednesday.
“Why does Brazil need the dollar to do business with China or Argentina? We can trade in our own currency,” she commented.
He then praised the prospects of the China-backed New Development Bank, commonly known as the BRICS bank, which finances infrastructure projects in Brazil and other developing countries.
“The BRICS bank must be effective and more generous than the IMF. In other words, the bank exists to help save countries and not to help sink countries, which is what the IMF often does,” he stated.
Lula also criticized the UN Security Council, noting that its members have been responsible for starting wars despite the body’s mission to maintain peace and security. Brazil has sought a permanent seat on the council for decades.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
