Over 30 Countries To Attend the BRICS Summit in the Russian City of Kazan
Banners of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Oct. 21, 2024. X/ @mae_rusia
October 21, 2024 Hour: 11:56 am
“In fact, this is the main event on the global agenda these days,” Kremlin spokesman Peskov pointed out.
Starting Tuesday, over 30 countries will gather in the Russian city of Kazan to participate in the BRICS summit, the economic cooperation group led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
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“In fact, this is the main event on the global agenda these days. Russia is not isolated. In the contemporary world, it is very difficult to isolate a country, especially one like Russia,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
An Alternative to the G7
Currently, BRICS also includes Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia. This economic cooperation group is increasingly viewed as a democratic deliberation space that counters the hegemony of the Group of Seven (G7), which consists of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and Japan.
“BRICS is not a group trying to replace the UN; on the contrary, it complements the UN and in no way contradicts the universal character of the United Nations,” the Kremlin stated.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin also highlighted that the combined production of BRICS exceeds US$60 trillion, “while its share of the global economy surpasses that of the G7 and continues to grow.”
Russian authorities are trying to leverage their presidency of the group to counter Western “exclusive clubs,” which they accuse of imposing their worldview on other countries.
The Economy Is the BRICS Driving Force
Currently, BRICS countries represent nearly half of the world’s population. Moreover, according to estimates by the Russian government, by 2028, the group’s combined share of the global economy will reach 38 percent, factoring in the new members. The final composition of the group will be one of the key issues of the summit, particularly concerning the definitive status of Saudi Arabia.
“We will provide additional information on who will represent Saudi Arabia and whether they will be present at the summit. From there, we will draw conclusions,” Peskov said in response to a question about whether Saudi Arabia is a full member of BRICS, as it was invited to join in 2023, something Riyadh has left unclear.
Meanwhile, more than thirty countries have expressed interest in participating in the group’s activities or joining the alliance as full members. Among them are Cuba, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and even Turkey, which is a NATO member. Last week, Turkish authorities clarified that their desire to join BRICS aligns with the country’s policy of neutrality and will not affect its relations with the West.
A Marathon of Meetings
The Kremlin confirmed that a total of 24 heads of state and government will attend the summit, including Xi Jinping (China), Narendra Modi (India), and Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Türkiye). Additionally, the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva will not be in Kazan due to health reasons after suffering a domestic accident a day before his scheduled departure for Russia. Most leaders of the participating countries will hold bilateral meetings with the Kremlin chief on the sidelines of the summit.
In addition to discussing the economy and defining criteria for other nations to join under a special category, the leaders meeting in Kazan will address regional and international issues. Last week, Putin said the discussions will include topics such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The Kazan reunion will be the 16th BRICS summit since its founding and the first one to include the new members. The summit will also see Brazil take over the BRICS presidency for one year, starting 2025.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
