São Paulo – The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the interest of other countries in joining BRICS points to the group’s international relevance. Several countries, including Arabs, have expressed their willingness to join the group formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. At the last summit, the members agreed to initiate discussions on expansion.
However, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry assesses an expansion would have to be treated with caution in the current context. “Brazil considers the interest of other countries in joining the BRICS indicates the relevance of the group in the global context. However, it understands any group expansion should be treated with caution in light of the current international context,” the Ministry told ANBA.
The chancellery defends the BRICS dialogue with other developing countries and international organizations. “Brazil believes in the group’s potential and defends BRICS dialogue with other developing countries and international organizations,” the Ministry stated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Brazil values BRICS as a mechanism for cooperation between developing countries and emerging economies and as a forum for coordination in favor of multilateralism and the reform of global governance institutions. “Cooperation within the scope of the group has brought concrete benefits to Brazilian society,” it informed the report.
According to the Ministry, BRICS maintains a dialogue with developing countries and international organizations during high-level meetings at the invitation of the incumbent president. In the most recent sessions, Algeria, Argentina, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Senegal, Thailand, and Uzbekistan were invited to the outreach session.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BRICS has terms of reference establishing the rules of operation, and there is no forecast, at the moment, for possible expansion. “According to the declaration adopted at the last Summit, the member countries agreed to initiate timely discussions on criteria and procedures that could guide eventual expansion,” informed the chancellery.
Pictured above, media coverage of the BRICS summit in South Africa in 2018.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
