Russian President Vladimir Putin sees the BRICS nations as the West’s geopolitical rival. He has offered to host the BRICS summit, a partnership of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, in his country. The countries’ leaders also unanimously declared on Wednesday that they are open to expanding the alliance.
In a speech broadcast via video link at a meeting in Johannesburg, Putin invited representatives from other member states to visit the Russian city of Kazan in October 2024. A specific date must be agreed through diplomatic channels.
Putin supported his military operations in neighboring Ukraine. He says the war was unleashed by the West and its supporters against the pro-Russian population in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin leader also hailed the BRICS as a counterweight to what he believes is America’s global dominance. Putin desperately needs the support of the BRICS countries, which have not condemned the war in Ukraine, given Western sanctions against his country.
Expansion
Other members of the BRICS summit, on the other hand, focused mainly on the expansion of the alliance. “We are expanding the BRICS family,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the start. Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the other hand, called for an accelerated process to add candidate members.
India, a BRICS country wary of China’s ambitions, did not comment on possible expansion at the start of the summit on Tuesday, but said on Wednesday it supported expansion plans. “India fully supports the expansion of BRICS membership and looks forward to moving towards consensus,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A club of five
About forty countries around the world have now joined or expressed interest in joining the ‘Club of Five’. BRICS accounts for one-fourth of the world economy and almost one-fifth of world trade. Cuba, Nigeria and Iran are among the candidates.
It is not yet clear whether the bloc will elect new members before the top ends. However, no consensus has yet been found on the criteria that candidate members must meet.
The US said on Tuesday evening that it did not see the BRICS as future “geopolitical rivals”. Washington says it wants to maintain its “strong ties” with Brazil, India and South Africa, while “maintaining” its relationship with China and continuing to resist Russian aggression.
see Putin meets with commanders responsible for invasion of Ukraine
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