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Bogotá, 19 jun (Prensa Latina) La canciller de Colombia, Laura Sarabia, celebró hoy el ingreso de su nación al banco del grupo Brics tras la solicitud realizada por el presidente Gustavo Petro en Shangai para adherirse a esa entidad.

"The news that transcends the financial and broadens our horizon. Colombia officially joins the Brics bank led by Dilma Rousseff. We continue to open the way to new opportunities for the country," he wrote in his account on the social network X.

The application to join the New Development Bank and an interview with Rousseff constituted Petro's last activity in his tour of China last May.

At the same time as Colombia's application, a letter signed by the Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Germán Ávila, was also made public, revealing Colombia's interest in joining the entity as a borrowing member, which would allow it to receive loans at low rates to finance development projects in infrastructure, renewable energies or health.

The minister also explained to Rousseff that Colombia “is willing to subscribe 5,125 shares of the authorized capital of the New Development Bank, of which 4,100 correspond to callable shares (as a guarantee) and 1,25 correspond to paid-in shares (in cash)”.

This is equivalent to a subscribed capital (total amount committed to contribute) of 512 million 200 thousand dollars, which includes a callable capital of 410 million dollars and a paid-in capital of 102 million 500 thousand dollars.

The first payment, as detailed in the letter of application for membership, would be made within six months from the date on which Colombia delivers the accession document.

The first payment, as detailed in the letter of application, would be made within six months from the date on which Colombia delivers the document of adherence to the agreement to the Brazilian Government. The New Development Bank is a multilateral financial institution created by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Its main objective is to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging and developing countries, both within and outside the group that already make up the bloc.

‘Nobody knows what I’m going to do,’ he told reporters when asked about a potential intervention. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump left open the possibility of a military strike against Iran and said that “nobody knows” what his final decision will be.

“I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” the president told reporters at the White House when asked about a potential intervention.

“I can say this: Iran has a lot of problems, and they want to negotiate. Why didn’t they negotiate with me two weeks ago? They could have made a good deal. They would have had a country. It’s very sad to see,” he added.

On Monday, Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada to return to the White House and meet with his National Security Council to assess whether the U.S. would join the attacks Israel has carried out against Iran since Friday.

The U.S. president explained that he had given the Islamic Republic a 60-day deadline to negotiate a nuclear deal and that, on the 61st day, Israel began bombing uranium enrichment facilities on Iranian soil.

Trump also addressed the message he posted on social media Tuesday directed at Tehran, in which he wrote “unconditional surrender.” He said the phrase meant that Iran should reach the point of saying, “I can’t take it anymore, I surrender.”

“For 40 years, they’ve said, ‘Death to America,’ ‘Death to Israel,’ ‘Death to anyone they don’t like.’ They’ve been bullies, schoolyard bullies. Now they’re not so much, but we’ll see what happens,” Trump said.

Hate narratives have led to over 1,000 arbitrary sanctions against the Bolivarian nation. On Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil denounced before the United Nations that his country has been a victim of hate speech, which has led to arbitrary sanctions against the Bolivarian nation and the persecution of Venezuelan migrants.

“Venezuela has been targeted by hate speech from the criminal U.S. government and the fascist right that follows its orders. Today, this hate speech takes the form of unilateral coercive measures that harm our people, as well as the persecution and imprisonment of our migrant brothers and sisters,” he said.

“On the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to tolerance, respect, dialogue and empathy, while remaining steadfast in its fight to defeat external aggression and defend its sovereignty,” the Bolivarian diplomat added.

U.S.-Venezuela tensions have escalated following Donald Trump’s return to the White House. In March, U.S. authorities sent over 200 Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador, accusing them of belonging to the Aragua Train, a criminal gang that Venezuelan authorities had dismantled years earlier in their country.

“Consequences of Sanctions in Palestine! Foreign Minister Yvan Gil emphasized that these policies affect the economic stability of the Palestinian Authority, exacerbate the suffering of its people, and limit the ability of other states to provide humanitarian assistance, thereby hampering efforts to alleviate the crisis. Gil warned that such sanctions exacerbate the precarious conditions of the people in the Gaza Strip.”

Then, in June, citing national security concerns, the Trump administration restricted entry into the U.S. for citizens of Venezuela and 18 other countries. Similarly, Washington chose not to renew Chevron’s license to operate in Venezuela, which had been valid until May 27.

On Monday, during the U.N. General Assembly meeting, Foreign Minister Gil called on the international community to advocate for the immediate end of sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba and demanded reparations for the “damages, injuries and losses suffered” by nations affected by these measures.

“The U.S. government and its European satellites have imposed over 1,000 sanctions against Venezuela over the past 10 years,” the Bolivarian diplomat denounced.

The former Argentine President is under house arrest in her Buenos Aires apartment. On Wednesday, former President Cristina Fernandez (2007-2015), who is under house arrest in her Buenos Aires apartment, asked Argentine judicial authorities whether she is permitted to step onto her balcony to greet the hundreds of supporters gathered outside since last week.

“Can I go out on my balcony or not? It seems like a joke, but it’s not… That’s why we’re asking the court to clarify. Please, what behavior is prohibited? I’m sharing the request for clarification submitted by my lawyers,” said the leader of the Justicialist Party (PJ).

In the message shared by Fernandez, who is serving a six-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban from holding public office, she included the legal filing from her attorneys seeking clarification on what she is allowed to do, arguing that the Supreme Court’s ruling is ambiguous.

Her lawyers, Carlos Alberto Beraldi and Ary Ruben Llernovoy, specifically questioned a section of the resolution that states: “Refrain from engaging in behavior that could disturb the peace of the neighborhood and/or disrupt the peaceful coexistence of its residents.”

“Social and political movements march in support of former President Cristina Fernandez-Kirchner.”

“What are the limits of this restriction?” her lawyers asked, noting that Fernandez’s detention “has sparked a public debate over whether our client can or cannot step onto the balcony of the residence where she is currently held. It is essential that Your Honor clarify whether such behavior is prohibited.”

Meanwhile, the street outside her apartment remains filled with citizens who back her, waiting for her to appear and greet them—as she has done since June 10, when the Supreme Court upheld her conviction.

Fernandez was convicted for irregularities in the awarding of public roadwork contracts in Santa Cruz province during her administration (2007-2015) and that of her late husband, Nestor Kirchner (2002-2007).

The ongoing lawfare against her is fueling a democratic resistance movement. On Wednesday, the Justicialist Party (PJ) called on various factions of Peronism to gather at Mayo Square in Buenos Aires at 2 p.m. for a rally against the legal exclusion of former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.

Maximo Kirchner’s La Campora began assembling at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Belgrano and 9 de Julio avenues. Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof, as well as mayors Fernando Moreira (San Martin), Jorge Ferraresi (Avellaneda) and Mario Secco (Ensenada), are expected to join the “Right to the Future” column, which will rally at 9 de Julio and Independencia avenues starting at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, university student and professor organizations, which have performed protests since the Supreme Court upheld Fernandez’s conviction, are marching from Diagonal Sur and Peru streets.

The pro-Fernandez demonstrations also have the backing of governors Ricardo Quintela (La Rioja), Sergio Ziliotto (La Pampa) and Gustavo Melella (Tierra del Fuego). The General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the Argentine Workers’ Central Union (CTA) confirmed their participation in the June 18 mobilizations.

The text reads, “We are going to May Square in defense of democratic freedoms and against the proscriptive ruling and the persecutory regime.”

Nationwide Support

Across the country, multiple shows of support emerged after the judicial decision to grant former President Fernandez house arrest. Cordoba is one of the provincial resistance epicenters. The local CGT and both branches of the CTA organized a march in the city center following the Supreme Court ruling.

In Santa Fe, the Justicialist Party and the CGT coordinated a mobilization effort. The PJ Secretary Daniel Rios confirmed the march would begin at 2:30 p.m. from the Soldier Square to 25 de Mayo Square.

Initially, the Buenos Aires march was planned to accompany Fernandez from her home to the Comodoro Py courts, where she had been summoned by Judge Jorge Gorini. However, the Federal Oral Court 2 canceled the summons after granting her house arrest.

Historical Parallels

Organizers drew direct parallels to Oct. 17, 1945, when thousands of “shirtless workers” (descamisados) marched to Mayo Square demanding the release of Juan Domingo Peron. The slogan “We had the 17th, now comes the 18th” circulated on social media, invoking the roots of the Peronist movement.

The Supreme Court’s decision included restrictions such as a ban on “behavior that could disturb the neighborhood’s peace,” mandatory registration of family and security details, and the installation of an electronic monitoring device.

Senator Eduardo de Pedro said: “It’s clearer than ever that this isn’t about justice but revenge. Cristina is innocent. They’re excluding the most important political leader of the last 50 years and trying to isolate her because she remains more relevant than ever.”

The text reads, “Cristina’s house is like this in this time, while people continue to get to May Square. They were wrong if they thought people would stop going because she can’t go out to greet.”

Milei Activates Repression Measures

In an effort to weaken the national mobilization against Fernandez’s exclusion, the Security Ministry imposed vehicle checkpoints to prevent protesters from reaching Mayo Square.

The surveillance operation began Tuesday night at key points across the country. On Route 9, connecting Rosario to Buenos Aires, Federal Police and National Gendarmerie patrols flanked bus caravans, forcing them to slow down.

Peronist leaders denounced the checks—which included thorough vehicle inspections and passenger ID checks—as intimidation tactics meant to discourage participation in the rally.

This repressive escalation reflects far-right President Javier Milei’s concern over the rise of a democratic resistance movement, fueled by opposition to the political and judicial persecution of Cristina Fernandez.