Venezuela celebrates relations with Russia, eyes BRICS membership

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Social media
14 Mar 2024 23:22
7 Shares

The Venezuelan Foreign Minister's post on X hails decades-long relations with Russia and hopes for establishing a multipolar world.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto shake hands at the end of a news conference at the Foreign Ministry in Caracas, Venezuela, February 20, 2024. (AP)

Venezuela and Russia are "united in the defense of sovereignty, mutually beneficial cooperation, and the fight for a more equitable, multipolar and just world," Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil Pinto, posted on X.

On the anniversary of the establishment of relations between the two nations, Gil highlighted the significant role that late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and current Russian President Vladimir Putin had in bolstering relations between Caracas and Moscow.

The top diplomat said Chavez and Putin "built an authentic friendship and a political, economic, and cultural alliance between" the people of the two nations.

"Our strategic cooperation has reached exceptional levels in areas such as energy, food, tourism, science, technology, trade, pharmaceuticals, military, culture, and sport," Gil underscored in his post.

"Currently, Russia and Venezuela remain united and firm voices against Western imperialism and the imposition of unjust unilateral coercive measures, which represent a violation of international legality and the human rights of peoples," he explained.

"With Russia leading the BRICS (alliance), we are confident that we will continue to advance decades of friendship together and contribute to transforming global politics and economics," the Foreign Minister concluded.

It is worth noting that Venezuela has long sought to join the BRICS economic alliance, which has recently opened up for expansion, allowing Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia to enter the group, which includes the founder members of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Russia will be presiding over the BRICS annual summit of 2024 succeeding South Africa, prompting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to say that the country will soon join the alliance.

Caracas has long battled with the United States' interference in domestic politics, as Washington eyes control over the strategic location of Venezuela and its abundant fossil fuel reserves. Nicolas Maduro's presidency successfully faced a US-launched campaign aimed at ending the socialist party's leading role in Venezuelan politics, as the country heads on the path of recovery from unprecedented inflation.