"More Than 40 Countries Express Interest in Joining BRICS"

 

 

photo:https://sputnikglobe.com

The BRICS nations, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, have been at the forefront of reshaping global affairs and challenging Western hegemony led by the United States. Recently, South Africa revealed that over 40 countries have expressed their keen interest in joining the esteemed group.

 

Anil Sooklal, along with officials from South Africa's Department of Foreign Affairs, addressed reporters in Johannesburg, shedding light on the growing fascination with BRICS membership. This revelation comes just a day after it was confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be attending the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled for August 22-24, 2023.

 

The summit will focus on crucial discussions surrounding the expansion of BRICS and how swiftly it can establish itself as a counterbalance to Western influence on global matters. With 22 nations formally requesting to join BRICS, Sooklal revealed that several other nations, including significant players from the southern hemisphere, have informally shown their interest in becoming BRICS members.

 

South African officials envision BRICS becoming a leading voice for developing nations. Notably, countries such as Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Comoros, Gabon, and Kazakhstan have already expressed their aspirations to join the prestigious group.

 

However, hosting the BRICS meeting poses a dilemma for South Africa. As a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March, the country is obligated to apprehend the Russian President if he attends, based on allegations of war crimes committed by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.

 

Despite this predicament, South Africa confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would attend the summit as a replacement for President Putin. This decision has drawn criticism from Western nations, accusing South Africa of being overly friendly towards Russia, a long-time ally of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) since the liberation movement fought against white minority rule.

 

South Africa maintains its neutral stance on the Ukrainian conflict, advocating for a peaceful resolution through negotiations. This position has led both sides to accept South Africa as a mediator, setting it apart from the hardline approaches taken by Western countries.

 

While Russia listened to South Africa's peace proposal last month, it ultimately did not accept it. The question remains whether condemnation and isolation will bring peace any closer. South African officials believe that engagement and dialogue are the keys to bringing all parties closer to meaningful negotiations.

 

As BRICS continues to attract interest from various nations worldwide, the upcoming summit promises to be a significant milestone in shaping the future landscape of global politics and cooperation among emerging economies.

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