BRICS group announces new six members

The BRICS group, which includes Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa, announced the approval of the accession of six new countries to its membership.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said during a press conference for the leaders of the BRICS member states in Johannesburg today: We reached a consensus on expanding the group, and we decided to invite Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina and Ethiopia to join the BRICS.”

He added that their membership will start on January 1. 2024.

He explained that BRICS has a good opportunity to develop alternative financial systems, expand the use of national currencies in commercial transactions, and open a new page on its way to building a more just and prosperous world.

He drew attention to the agreement of the BRICS leaders on the final statement of the fifteenth summit of the group in Johannesburg, in which they affirmed their adherence to respect international law and the charter and resolutions of the United Nations in international relations.

In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his participation via video, welcomed the accession of the new members of the group, pointing to work to ensure constructive and effective cooperation with them, and to continue making efforts to expand the influence of the BRICS group in the world.

For his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping said: We congratulate the countries that joined BRICS, which have made their decision to deal with developed and emerging countries, which shoulder a great responsibility for establishing peace, stability and achieving development in the world due to their growing influence on the international arena.

In turn, Brazilian President Lula da Silva pointed out that the diversity of the BRICS group gives it strength to work for a new multipolar world order.

For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that the accession of new members will enhance the confidence of different countries around the world in the BRICS group and their efforts to form a multipolar world.

Modi indicated that expanding the group is a message that the international community must hear, as this initiative can be an example for carrying out reforms in various international institutions.

According to the declaration of the 15th BRICS summit, BRICS countries are set to strengthen agricultural cooperation to ensure food security both within the group and worldwide,

“Recognizing that BRICS countries produce one third of the world’s food, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthen agricultural cooperation and promote sustainable agriculture and rural development of BRICS countries for enhancing food security both within BRICS and worldwide,” the Johannesburg II Declaration reads.

BRICS leaders emphasized the need for global access to food and resilient food supply chains.

O.M