BRICS Moves Forward, Demonstrates its Strength & Relevance, Russian Deputy FM Says
09:41 01.06.2023 (Updated: 10:49 03.08.2023)
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is taking part in the meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers on June 1-2 in Cape Town, South Africa. During the meeting, the participants are expected to discuss topical issues on the international agenda, including the issue of the group's expansion and the prospects for its strategic cooperation.
The BRICS group is moving forward, showing its strength and importance as the center of a new multipolar world order, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters on the sidelines of the bloc's ministerial meeting in Cape Town.
"BRICS is moving forward; BRICS is demonstrating its strength and relevance. It is probably the center of gravity of the multipolar world. Many countries are showing an interest in joining BRICS and probably developing schemes that will allow them to join not only practical cooperation, but also political positions and agreements that we have in this format," he stated.
According to the official, it is important that all the countries, while sending experts and representatives to the meeting, holding negotiations on the preparation of the final document, are not only committed to BRICS, but demonstrate "a firm attitude and a clear understanding that it is one of the main modern formats, one of the main platforms" that can be used to ensure one's national interests and sovereignty.
He also commented on the issue of BRICS expansion, noting that it is not the right moment to talk about specific candidates.
In particular, he added that Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who was also present at the meeting, is expected to hold a meeting with his Russian counterpart.
"The issue of BRICS expansion has been discussed for some time already [...]. There are several very strong candidates for joining the BRICS, Saudi Arabia is one of them. We definitely support their candidacy and will do our best to ensure that the process of developing parameters and criteria for the admission of new members is not delayed," Ryabkov said.
States Backing Sanctions Against Russia Can't Join
The deputy foreign minister further elaborated that Moscow reaffirms its unshakable position that there should be no states in BRICS that have joined the illegal policy of unilateral sanctions applied against Russia and other states.
"I reaffirm, however, our unshakable determination to proceed from the fact that there should be no countries in BRICS that have joined the illegal policy of unilateral sanctions applied against Russia and other states too," Ryabkov told reporters.
He noted that Russia, as "one of the most influential countries," a state that is capable of ensuring both its own security and its interests on the international arena, is a key voice on the issue of "who, how and when will be accepted" into the BRICS group.
"There is an understanding that BRICS should move along the path of expansion. There are several regions that are underrepresented or not represented at all in BRICS. We support the interest of several states in joining the group, and I am sure that during the ministerial meeting, which will start today and continue tomorrow, it will be one of the main topics," he said.
During the ministerial meeting in Cape Town, one of the most important topics is expected to be the discussion of the association's expansion, the composition of which has not changed since 2010. As of now, BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. However, at least 19 states have already expressed their desire to join the economic bloc, including Argentina, Iran, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
