Tehran, IRNA - Venezuela has formally applied to join the BRICS group and is expecting a positive decision on the matter, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said.

During his program, Con Maduro+, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced that the country formally requested to join BRICS, the economic and geopolitical bloc formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

President Maduro hopes that the request will be positively valued by the countries that make up the group so that “Venezuela enters the dynamics of BRICS to learn, support, and help,” according to his statements during the show broadcast on July 31, 2023.

Venezuela would have much to contribute to the emerging group as it possesses enormous energy reserves, as well as an infinity of raw materials necessary for states such as China and India to follow their path to become the most industrialized nations in the world.

The five BRICS member states are expected to consider official membership applications from a number of countries at the group’s summit scheduled to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 22-24.

BRICS is a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa that was formed by the addition of South Africa to the predecessor BRIC in 2010.

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