More Than 30 Countries Seek To Join BRICS, Says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that over 30 countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS alliance, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This announcement came during his opening statement at the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia.

Global Interest in BRICS

Putin emphasized the unprecedented interest from nations in the Global South and East, stating, “It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest of the countries in strengthening contacts with BRICS.” He stressed the importance of maintaining a balance to ensure the effectiveness of the organization amid this growing interest.

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The summit featured key leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chinese President Xi Jinping, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Luis Ecker Vieira. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were also in attendance.

Strengthening Multilateralism

In his remarks, Putin highlighted that this summit marks the first time BRICS is meeting in an expanded format, aligning with Russia’s presidency focus on promoting multilateralism for equitable global development and security. “We sought to strengthen the authority of BRICS, enhance its role in world affairs, and address urgent global and regional problems,” he noted.

Key Discussions on Global Issues

During the summit, leaders discussed pressing global issues, including BRICS cooperation in international affairs and the resolution of regional conflicts. Putin also mentioned the implementation of key decisions from the previous summit in Johannesburg, particularly focusing on deepening financial cooperation and further expanding the organization.

Emphasizing Shared Values

Putin underscored the significant political, economic, scientific, technological, and human potential of BRICS member states. He described BRICS as a coalition of like-minded sovereign nations representing diverse continents, development models, and cultures. “This is the essence of the strategy of the BRICS course on the global stage, which meets the aspirations of the global majority,” he concluded, highlighting the increasing demand for a multipolar world amid fundamental global changes.