On August 22, 2023, the 15th BRICS summit kicked off in Johannesburg, South Africa. This event will be the largest-ever gathering of leaders of non-Western nations.
This year, 67 heads of state will attend the top-level event, while 40 countries including Kazakhstan and Cuba have expressed their desire to join the club. Among those who jumped at the opportunity to officially apply are Argentina, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that BRICS accounts for 31.5% of global GDP (at purchasing power parity) and represents roughly 40% of the world’s population. According to the top diplomat, this makes the organization a global influencer.
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