BRICS has launched the process of expanding the association to become one of the pillars of a more just polycentric world order, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an article for the South African magazine Ubuntu.
The minister pointed to the ongoing work on the development of interaction between the association and the states of the world's majority. In particular, one of the priorities of the South African presidency is to strengthen
cooperation with African countries, he said, adding that Russia "fully shares this approach."
"Our association has many like-minded supporters around the world. They see the BRICS as a positive force capable of strengthening the solidarity of the countries of the Global South and East to become one of the pillars of a new, more just, polycentric world order. The Five are ready to respond to this call. That is why we have launched the expansion process," Lavrov stressed.
However, he emphasized that BRICS does not aim to become a "new collective hegemon," reiterating that the group is ready to become one of the pillars of a new multipolar world.
According to Lavrov, it is "symbolic" that the BRICS expansion process gained such momentum precisely in the year of
South Africa's chairmanship, a country that was admitted to the BRICS economic bloc "as a result of a consensus political decision."
"I am convinced that the 15th anniversary summit will be another milestone in our strategic partnership, will set key priorities for action in the coming years," the minister said.
Lavrov went on to say that Russia highly appreciates the efforts of the South African chairmanship, including the intensification of work on improving the entire complex of mechanisms for the functioning of the bloc, deepening dialogue with third countries.
He also noted that among priorities of the bloc are strengthening the potential of the
New Development Bank and the pool of BRICS' foreign exchange reserves, improving payment mechanisms, as well as increasing the role of national currencies in mutual settlements. The Russian minister added that these issues will be the focus of the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
According to the diplomat, Russia and a number of other countries are gradually reducing their dependence on the dollar and switching to settlements in national currencies.
He underlined that the attempts of the "collective West" to maintain its hegemony have the opposite effect, since "the world community is tired of the blackmail and pressure of the Western elites, of their colonial, racist habits."
Lavrov emphasized that Russia is convinced that the interests of
developing countries, including African states, must be presented in the UN Security Council. According to the diplomat, Moscow advocates for strengthening the position of Africa "in the multipolar world order."
"We will continue to support African friends in their desire to play an increasingly significant role in solving the key problems of our time," he stressed, adding: "This fully applies to the process of reforming the UN Security Council, in which, we firmly believe, the legitimate interests of developing countries, including Africa, must be guaranteed first and foremost."
The minister also touched upon the issue of Russia-Africa cooperation, noting that Moscow is ready to make its contribution to strengthening food and energy security on the continent.
The 15th BRICS summit, which will be held on August 22-24 in Johannesburg, is expected to be attended by the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected
to participate in the summit via video link.
BRICS unites Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, but recently at least 19 states have expressed their desire to join the economic bloc, including Argentina, Iran, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.