In this week’s round-up: Russia, new BRICS president, speaks out on Argentina’s decision not to join BRICS, and Saudi Arabia’s reservations about joining the global alliance; South Africa in the spotlight at the International Court of Justice, where it has accused Israel of genocide over its war on the Gaza Strip in Palestine; and Egypt’s expectations from BRICS.
Egyptian president expected at BRICS summit in Kazan in Oct – Putin
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is expected at the BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
South Africa dazzles on global stage as Russia assumes BRICS chairmanship
Original BRICS member and last year’s chair of BRICS, South Africa gained the admiration and appreciation of most of the world for its moral courage and example in acting to intervene in the horrific tragedy in Gaza by taking legal action at the Hague against Israel’s “genocidal acts” in its conduct of the war, calling inter alia, for an urgent ruling in favour of the immediate suspension of hostilities. It also won enormous respect for delivering its case with impressive competence and style.
New member Egypt says it wants to deepen ties with BRICS
Egypt aims to deepen ties with other BRICS members after acceding to the group at the start of this year, and trade volumes have already been strengthening, the country’s planning minister said.
Saudi Arabia to import meat from new BRICS partner South Africa
Saudi Arabia will start importing South African beef and lamb products as part of an investment push into the continent’s most developed economy.
Kremlin says it regrets Argentina’s decision not to join BRICS, hopes it reconsiders
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of Argentina’s decision: “Of course this is regrettable, but this is the sovereign right of Argentina, and we respect any decision of Buenos Aires.”
Godongwana vows South Africa will champion AfCFTA within expanded BRICS
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has vowed that South Africa will champion the basic tenets of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) within the expanded BRICS group of emerging countries.
Russia aims to strengthen BRICS-Plus as voice of Global South: Russian deputy envoy to India
Russia aims to strengthen the BRICS-Plus as one of the core organisations promoting the agenda of the Global South during its presidency of the grouping, the country’s Deputy Chief of Mission in India Roman Babushkin said.
Why the world needs a Brics+ Belt and Road Initiative
What if the Brics nations were to formally adopt the China-led Belt and Road Initiative and make it a joint international project with an institutional structure and an international headquarters?
Why ideology still matters for an expanding BRICS
BRICS has long positioned itself as a bastion of forthcoming economic might. The organization’s five pre-expansion members make up 23 percent of global GDP and 18% of global trade.
These numbers obscure a different reality: the BRICS has failed to live up to its economic promise.
