Venezuela hoping to join BRICS during Russian presidency - Venezuelan FM

MOSCOW. Nov 17 (Interfax) - Venezuela is hoping to boost its accession to BRICS during the Russian presidency of the group in 2024, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto said.

"Venezuela attended the meeting in Johannesburg in Africa as a BRICS partner. Now we are awaiting Russia's BRICS presidency in 2024 to take another step towards entering the alliance," Gil said in an interview published by the newspaper Izvestia on Friday.

"Venezuela should be part of BRICS due to its energy and economic potential," he said.

"Venezuela has influence in the Latin American region. We believe it will become part of BRICS, although we are already working with group members and our cooperation will continue to intensify. We hope to make much headway during the Russian presidency, in particular in the resolution of geopolitical problems the world is experiencing," Gil said.

BRICS members (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have decided to invite Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join as full members of the group from January 1, 2024. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August.