The six countries that received an invitation to become members of BRICS at its summit have confirmed their decision to join the bloc, one of Russia's top diplomats unveiled. The high-ranking official added that at this point in time it would be premature to name those in the next batch of candidates.
BRICS and Its New Members Need Time Before Next Expansion Wave, Moscow Says
All of the newly invited countries have reaffirmed their desire to join BRICS, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said at a press conference after the organization's 15th annual summit which was held on Aug. 22-24 in South Africa.
At their meeting in Johannesburg, the current five member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) agreed to admit six more nations as members of the group on Jan. 1, 2024 — Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
"All the countries who have been invited to join BRICS confirmed their willingness to accept the invitation in a positive manner and, I'd say, with an air of gratitude and appreciation," Ryabkov stated, quoted by the Tass news agency. He also emphasized:
Certainly, we will not wait for Jan. 1 to discuss how the invitees will be involved.
An updated list of candidates for BRICS membership will be prepared for consideration at the group's next annual summit in the Russian Federation, which will take up the one-year rotating chairmanship from South Africa.
Ryabkov noted it's too early to talk about further enlargement as a pause is needed to allow the bloc's new member states to adapt. "I wouldn't take it upon myself to name any potential next-wave candidates. To begin with, the current first 'installment' consists of six countries, which is more than the 'founding five.'"
"We need to see how this 'football team,' to borrow the expression from [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov, will perform directly on the field of play, how coordinated it is. Time is needed for adaptation and exchanging best practices," the senior Russian diplomat added. "The main thing is that there is a political will, a firm intention to move ahead," he pointed out.
Do you think BRICS will invite more candidates for membership next year? Share your expectations in the comments section below.
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