Venezuela has announced it is pulling its ambassador from Brazil after a dispute over Caracas’s failed bid to join the BRICS alliance. The Foreign Ministry accused Brazilian officials of making ‘interventionist, rude statements’ and blocking Venezuela’s membership. Tensions between the neighboring countries have been on the rise since Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared himself re-elected in July. Brazil’s President has not recognized Maduro as the legitimate winner and called for official tallies to be published before doing so.
Brazil’s move to veto Venezuela’s BRICS application at the recent summit has further strained relations. The Foreign Ministry of Venezuela criticized Brazil’s top foreign policy adviser, calling him a ‘messenger for North American imperialism’ for his comments on the situation. The opposition in Venezuela has claimed victory in the election, leading to a political crisis in the country.
The Venezuelan security forces have been criticized for their violent crackdown on demonstrators after the disputed election, resulting in multiple deaths. An opposition leader was found dead last week after being taken into state custody. The situation in Venezuela continues to escalate, and this recent diplomatic dispute with Brazil is adding to the tensions between the two countries.
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