“We agreed on the issue of expansion. We have adopted a document that defines the guidelines, principles and examination processes for countries wishing to become BRICS members,” said the South African Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, on Ubuntu Public Radio.
The South African Minister He did not specify, however, which countries will join in the coming years to the club, although he said that more “details” will be known before the end of the summitThursday night.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that “the interest of various countries in joining the group is the recognition of its growing relevance.”
China, the group’s economic heavyweight, reiterated its position in favor of expansion. “The BRICS must work in favor of multilateralism and not create small blocs. We must integrate other countries into the BRICS family”said Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The same as Moscow, which, under sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, needs diplomatic allies. India, after keeping silent on the first day of the summit, on Tuesday, ended up pronouncing in favor of the opening.
Which countries could join the BRICS
Although the list of countries has not yet been specified, some forty nations applied for membership or expressed their desire to join the bloc created in 2009, which represents almost a quarter of GDP and 42% of the world’s population.
Argentina is one of the main applicants. President Alberto Fernández took advantage of his participation as a special guest at the 2022 BRICS Summit to request his formal recognition.
“In Argentina we are capable of both producing and exporting food, we also know how to provide services and train specialists so that other countries can increase their productive efficiency and thus improve their quality of life,” said the president in his presentation, adding that “we have great resources energy sources” such as oil, lithium, green hydrogen and other renewable energies.
However, the head of state did not travel to the current summit due to the last-minute decision not to discuss the country’s incorporation.
Iran, one of the main powers of the Middle East, also formally requested its incorporation into the bloc. He did so on June 27 of last year through the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh.
The Iranian diplomat pointed out that this decision is made after several consultations on the subject and with the intention of providing “added values” to this international organization.
Saudi Arabia, one of the main producers of fossil energy in the world, also requested its incorporation and would be among the priorities of the group when analyzing the applications.
Kazakhstan recently made public its intentions to join the BRICS. During 2021, the nation accumulated a commercial exchange of 45,000 million dollars with the countries that make up the bloc.
During last year’s summit, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said his country has a “vital interest” in strengthening its ties with the group’s countries. “Kazakhstan views the BRICS as a truly influential organization and a key driver for the global economy. Kazakhstan has a vital interest in developing a vibrant partnership with the BRICS countries,” Tokayev said.
In total, more than 20 countries have already filed a formal complaint, including Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia and Vietnam. as long as Mexico, Pakistan and Türkiye They expressed interest, but did not formalize an application.
Equality with the EU and the US
The members of this alliance share the common desire to affirm their place in the world, “on an equal footing with the European Union and the United States”, in the words of the Brazilian president, Lula da Silva.
Washington assured on Tuesday that it does not see the BRICS as future “geopolitical rivals” and counts on maintaining its “solid relations” with Brazil, India and South Africa.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, present in Johannesburg, announced that his country will host the annual BRICS summit in 2024.
The agenda of the current summit of the BRICS, which represent 18% of world trade, includes the search for alternatives to the dollar in their commercial transactions.
The Brazilian president defended on Tuesday the integration of Argentina, a country in difficulties due to a debt of US$44,000 million dollars with the IMFand advocated “reducing the vulnerabilities” of the countries of the global South thanks to “our own financial systems.”
“We need an international financial system that, instead of fueling inequalities, helps low- and middle-income countries implement structural changes,” he said, again mentioning the possibility of creating a specific currency for trade and investment transactions between the members of the block.
The BRICS created the New Development Bank (NDB) in 2015 with the ambition of representing an alternative to the World Bank and the IMF.
The Shanghai-based institution has so far invested $30 billion in infrastructure and sustainable development projects in member states and developing economies.
Source: Ambito
