South African officials want BRICS to champion the developing world. (file)
Johannesburg:
More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS grouping, South Africa’s top diplomat in charge of relations with the grouping said today.
Anil Suklal and State Department officials were addressing reporters in the main commercial city of Johannesburg, a day after South Africa confirmed that Russia’s Vladimir Putin would not attend the August 22-24 BRICS summit.
The question of how far and how fast to expand the club centered on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa is high on the agenda at a summit of countries fighting the perceived global hegemony of the US-led West. want to compensate. cases.
In addition to the 22 countries that have formally asked to join, Mr. Suklal said there are “an equal number of countries that have informally expressed interest in becoming BRICS members (including) all major Global South countries”.
South African officials want BRICS to champion the developing world, and Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Gabon and Kazakhstan have all expressed interest.
South Africa was faced with the dilemma of hosting the summit. As a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which in March issued a warrant against President Putin to arrest him if he was involved in war crimes alleged by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, a charge President Putin denies.
But yesterday the host confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would attend in place of his president.
South Africa has faced criticism from Western countries for what they see as an overly friendly approach to Russia, a longtime ally of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) as it was a liberation movement fighting white minority rule. South Africa says it has a neutral position on the Ukraine war, which it wants to end through dialogue.
Addressing the press on Thursday, diplomats said the position was confirmed by the acceptance of South Africa by both sides as a mediator in the conflict, in contrast to the aggression being carried out by Western powers.
Russia last month heard but ultimately did not accept a peace plan proposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and other African leaders.
Zaheer Laher, South Africa’s acting director-general for global governance, said, “Has condemnation, isolation brought us closer to peace? No.” “But engagement will bring the parties closer to negotiation.”
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