Brazilian President Lula voices support for more nations joining BRICS group

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that he supports more countries joining BRICS group of large developing nations, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

group will hold a summit in Johannesburg from Aug. 22 to 24. meeting will have in hand a list of ors desiring to join r group.

“Possibly, in this meeting, we can alrey consensually decide which new countries can join BRICS,” Lula told international journalists in capital, Brasilia. “I am of opinion that as many countries want to enter, if y are in compliance with rules we are establishing, we will accept countries' entrance.” Lula's comments came hours after Reuters reported that Brazil has resisted expanding group's membership. It quoted unidentified Brazilian diplomats as voicing concern that ding more nations could lessen influence of existing members.

Around 20 countries have formally applied to join bloc, Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira said after Lula's session with journalists. AMong m are Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran and Venezuela, he said.

Vieira said that all BRICS members are interested in making an effort to accept or countries, but parameters still need to be discussed and re needs to be mutual agreement among leers.

summit in Johannesburg will occur as China and Russia, facing isolation by U.S. and European Union, seek to expand ir ecomic influence in developing countries. Russian President Vlimir Putin will join summit via video call, while all or hes of state are expected to attend in person.

Since taking office, Lula has repeatedly bucked existing Wester-dominated international structure.

He has rejected U.S. and EU's shared position of supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion, refusing to provide arms to Ukranian forces and pushing for peace talks to bring war to an end.

He has called for an end to dominance of U.S. dollar in international tre and supported a common currency for commerce within South American bloc Mercosur and for tre among BRICS nations. He has also taken swipes at International Monetary Fund.

Lula repeated those positions Wednesday.

“Why does Brazil need dollar to tre with China or ntina? We can tre in our currency,” he said.

He went on to hail prospects of Chinese-backed New Development Bank, commonly kwn as BRICS bank, which is funding infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in developing world.

“ BRICS bank must be effective and more generous than IMF. Which is to say, bank exists to help save countries and t to help sink countries, which is what IMF does many times,” he said.

Lula also criticized U.N. Security Council, saying its members have been responsible for starting wars despite body's stated mission of maintaining peace and security. Brazil has been seeking a permanent seat on council for deces.