MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lula supports several countries joining BRICS, “if they comply with our rules”

“Possibly, in this meeting, we can already consensually decide which new countries can join BRICS,” Lula told international journalists in the capital, Brasilia

Brazilian President Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that he supports more countries joining the BRICS group of large developing nations, (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) when the group holds its summit in Johannesburg from Aug. 22 to 24.

“Possibly, in this meeting, we can already consensually decide which new countries can join BRICS,” Lula told international journalists in the capital, Brasilia. “I am of the opinion that as many countries want to enter, if they are in compliance with the rules we are establishing, we will accept the countries' entrance.”

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

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

The summit in Johannesburg will occur as China and Russia, facing isolation by the U.S. and European Union, seek to expand their economic influence in developing countries. Allegedly Russian President Vladimir Putin will join the summit via video call, while all other heads of state are expected to attend in person.

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

He has rejected the 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 the war to an end.

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

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

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

“The BRICS bank must be effective and more generous than the IMF. Which is to say, the bank exists to help save countries and not to help sink countries, which is what the IMF does many times,” he said.

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