Countries Eye BRICS Membership, Russian Deputy Minister Says

A recent report by Tass, a publication owned by the Russian government, reveals that Senior Russian diplomat Sergey Ryabkov has stated that the competition to gain entry to BRICS is becoming increasingly fierce.

Currently, close to 20 countries are waiting to join the economic coalition, which currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

“The list of candidates for joining the association continues to increase. The number of states seeking to join this association is nearing twenty. It reflects BRICS’ growing and already considerable role in the international arena as an association of countries with similar positions. I would like to stress it.”

Ryabkov who currently serves as Russia’s deputy foreign minister, says that BRICS has decided that it is a group of nations that don’t follow the “leader-follower” principle, and instead aims to “set a constructive agenda based on consensus.”

“Discussions continue on what could be the criteria for joining BRICS, and South Africa has intensified this work.”

Ryabkov is fluent English speaker who once told U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on behalf of the Russian government that Russia had “no intention of attacking, staging an offensive on or invading Ukraine.”

According to the latest reports, it looks like the top figureheads of the BRICS alliance say that the coalition represents “a complete reconfiguration of global order as the old world fades away.”

The online publication the Daily Hodl notes the fact that foreign ministers of BRICS, which currently represent the countries of Brazil, Russia, Iran, China and South Africa, just met in Cape Town for a summit.

A new report from The Daily Star, the theme of the conference was overshadowed by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor said the following:

“Our vision of BRICS is for our partnership to provide global leadership in a world fractured by competition, geopolitical tension, inequality, and deteriorating global security…

Our discussions today will therefore focus on opportunities… strengthening and transforming global governance systems”.