About three dozen countries are eager to get closer to BRICS and establish partnership relations with the bloc, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the meeting of the general council of the United Russia party on international cooperation and support for compatriots abroad.
"It is natural that, given the fact that BRICS operates on truly democratic and mutually respectful principles, many countries are eager to get closer to it. In addition to the countries that have already joined the ranks of our association, today about three dozen countries want to establish relations, partner relations with BRICS," the top diplomat noted.
For example, Latin American countries are very interested in joining BRICS following the inclusion of new members to the bloc, Lavrov revealed.
"With the inclusion of new members in BRICS, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Iran, Ethiopia — and Argentina has now taken time out to think about it — there is certainly strong interest in Latin America in the alliance, but with new members, work will become more multifaceted and it will take more time to reach agreements," he emphasized.
He added that the kind of consensus reached with countries that sometimes have different approaches is very valuable. Lavrov noted that such a consensus is "stronger, more durable, more reliable than the decisions that in some Western unions are made by decree of a hegemon."
The minister also noted that Russia will continue to work on strengthening BRICS as one of the pillars of the multipolar world.
In this regard, Lavrov touched on Russia's BRICS chairmanship in 2024, saying that Moscow expects a "solid set of decisions" to be taken at the highest level at the bloc's summit in Kazan in October 2024.
According to him, dozens of Russian cities will host more than two hundred events on political, economic and social issues during Russia's BRICS presidency.
"The BRICS summit in Kazan next October will be the high point. Together with our partners, we expect to make a solid set of decisions at the highest level in the main areas of cooperation. Of course, on the margins of the BRICS summit and in preparation for it, there will be contacts with our partners, including the summit format, including BRICS+," Lavrov pointed out.
He added that the leaders of developing countries will take part in these formats.
In August, the BRICS summit in Johannesburg opened the door for Ethiopia, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join the bloc. Full membership for these countries is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2024.
In total, more than 20 countries have formally applied to join BRICS, as South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor announced in early August.