In an extremely challenging global environment, the BRICS member states are playing a significant role in advancing the interests of the developing world, said Ben Joubert, the country's BRICS Sous-Sherpa and Director for Regional Organisations of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO).
Addressing the BRICS Roadshow and Sawubona Afrika conference, the official reiterated that South Africa is chairing BRICS in times of various geopolitical challenges. However, he stressed, the country is committed to its mission as BRICS chair in championing global reforms.
"There are 200 meetings we are having this year and the friends of BRICS meeting as we [are] going into the summit from 22 to 24 August. BRICS is definitely championing the interests of the Global South and ensuring a more inclusive, multilateral environment for every country of the world system," he said.
He underlined that the BRICS member states are already contributing to the world's stability and peace. According to Joubert, the BRICS countries are making efforts to provide equal opportunities for the economic development of all nations across the world. That's why "we see that there is so much interest in joining BRICS."
"The expansion debate is something that South Africa is driving as chair this year," Joubert stated.
He noted that the ongoing discussion on BRICS expansion at this point is focused, among other things, on determining the modalities and criteria for inclusion as a member of the body. The official added that "it is something that we hope we can definitely have some consensus from our BRICS partners on in order to move forward" on the issue.
Over the past months and years, several countries have expressed their interest in joining the BRICS group, including Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Turkey and Bangladesh. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the topic of BRICS expansion will be on the agenda of the upcoming summit in August.
"It is perhaps the most important summit that BRICS will have in its existence. We'll see what comes out of that," BRICS Sous-Sherpa for South Africa said, adding: "We are certainly hopeful that we will host the BRICS summit that is significant not only for the institution itself. But also for the Global South."
According to Joubert, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will engage a "significant amount of leaders" apart from the BRICS member states in the summit's discussions.
South Africa, which assumed the rotating BRICS presidency in January, will host the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August.