This week’s round-up: Syria urges BRICS to aid reconstruction; Syria’s membership in BRICS should be decided by elected authorities; Why Bahrain is considering future in BRICS+; International trade solutions offered by the BRICS Summit; President renews Sri Lanka’s bid to join BRICS; Senior Russian diplomat sees BRICS as ‘ray of hope’ for those who defy Western diktat; BRICS not against West, Putin says.
Nigeria calls Trump’s bluff after BRICS threat
Reacting, a source in the presidency who did not want his name in print because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said Nigeria did not feel threatened by Trump’s outburst.
Indonesia still eyes BRICS membership despite Trump tariff threat
Indonesia remains cautiously determined to join BRICS despite a threat from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to double tariffs on members of the Russia- and China-led bloc if it pursues its stated goal of establishing an alternative to the U.S. dollar in international trade.
BRICS Expansion: Implications for Africa and the Middle East
BRICS has long represented a coalition of emerging economies challenging the traditional dominance of the West in global political and economic affairs.
Syria urges BRICS to aid reconstruction, Syrian politician tells TASS
Syria calls on BRICS countries to aid its reconstruction, Mohammed Alloush, a Syrian politician and former head of the opposition delegation at the Syria talks in Geneva and Astana, told TASS.
Syria’s membership in BRICS should be decided by elected authorities — politician
The decision regarding Syria’s potential membership in BRICS should be determined by both the newly formed government and parliament, Mohammed Sabra, former head of the Syrian opposition’s High Negotiations Committee, told TASS.
BRICS will discuss Syria, common approaches to situation
BRICS plans to deliberate on the situation in Syria and work towards unified approaches to the ongoing developments, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Russia’s Sherpa in the BRICS Sergey Ryabkov stated in an interview with TASS.
Special military operation in Syria does not affect BRICS plans
The armed special operation of military groups in Syria does not facilitate but also does not invalidate various BRICS projects, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Russia’s Sherpa in the BRICS Sergey Ryabkov stated in an interview with the TASS Analytical Centre.
Senior Russian diplomat sees BRICS as ‘ray of hope’ for those who defy Western diktat
BRICS is a ray of hope for those countries who defy the Western diktat, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov told the TASS Analytical Centre in an interview.
BRICS countries actively put forward ideas on Ukrainian settlement — senior diplomat
The BRICS member states are actively putting forward ideas on how to settle the Ukrainian conflict, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who serves as Moscow’s BRICS sherpa, said in an interview with the TASS Analytical Centre.
BRICS anticipates active involvement of new members in space initiatives
BRICS expects its new members to proactively engage in space exploration and research projects, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov told the TASS Analytical Centre in an interview.
Why do Southeast Asian countries want to join BRICS?
In October 2024, four key Southeast Asian countries became partners of BRICS, making the organisation much closer to home for Australians. So why have Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam put themselves on a path to membership?
Russia’s farewell to BRICS chairmanship
Popularly referred to as BRICS+, this informal association of emerging economies has witnessed unparalleled transformations under Russia’s chairmanship in 2024.
Why Bahrain is considering future in BRICS+
The foreign policy of Bahrain frequently follows in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi’s leadership. As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the first Gulf Arab state to accede to the BRICS+ group of countries, it is therefore worth considering what Bahrain’s possible entry into the bloc could mean for Manama—even if it may not necessarily materialise any time soon.
BRICS’ own payment system is feasible, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister believes
Creating BRICS own system of payments and settlements is not hypothetical, but real, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with the TASS Analytical Centre.
Not just waiting around for higher tariffs, China looks to BRICS
Donald Trump’s cabinet appointments and policy pronouncements have been dominating the headlines and many of these appointments and pronouncements have dire implications for China. The Chinese have noticed.
No room for Sri Lanka in BRICS at this moment
There is no room for Sri Lanka to be included in BRICS at this moment, Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri said.
India will back Sri Lanka’s BRICS membership when consensus reached: Foreign Secretary
India will back Sri Lanka’s bid to become a member of BRICS group when the World’s powerful South-South corporation considers news membership, India’s Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri said.
BRICS not against West, Putin says
BRICS is not against the West or anyone else, as the association is aimed at advancing the interests of its member states, President Vladimir Putin said at the combined Q&A session and year-end press conference.
BRICS a catalyst for global growth: Murwira
Zimbabwe sees its partnership with BRICS as a vital catalyst for global growth and development, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira has said.
International trade solutions offered by the BRICS Summit
The fast-paced development of digital trade and support at the level of micro, small and medium enterprises in creating and integrating them into joint global value chains and global production networks with the help of appropriate innovative digital infrastructure and inclusive institutional architecture, offers significant opportunities for the Russian economy and Russia’s foreign trade. In this sense, the decisions adopted at the BRICS Kazan Summit can serve as a strong foundation for carrying out the corresponding transformation with a focus on regional and local readiness to implement this transformation effectively, writes Ninel Seniuk, Associate Professor at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University.
BRICS is approaching G20 format, Brazilian foreign minister says
BRICS countries continue to strengthen their cooperation within the community, moving closer to the level of the G20 format, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira stated.
Africa transcending into BRICS+ orbit
After the historic 16th BRICS summit held in October 2024, three African States Algeria, Nigeria and Uganda, among others in Europe (Belarus and Turkey), Asia and Latin America, recognizably became BRICS+ partner states. In total, 13 countries received BRICS partner status, according to declaration reports by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This category of ‘partner states’ was primarily designated as part of the distinctive-focused leeway towards acquiring full membership status in the determined future.
What Southeast Asia can learn from BRICS countries’ emerging fashion ecosystem
The BRICS Fashion Summit, held last October in Moscow, brought together leading figures from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to discuss the future of the global fashion industry. The summit focused on several key issues: sustainability, innovation in textile technology, and the rise of locally inspired designs that cater to global tastes. For Southeast Asia, and particularly Laos, this summit provided a timely opportunity to reflect on the region’s growing role in global fashion markets and the lessons that can be drawn from the BRICS countries.
New BRICS ally countries get listed
Cuba and Bolivia are set to officially become BRICS partner states on January 1, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. In an interview with Izvestia on Friday, Ryabkov confirmed that both countries had received invitations to join the group as partners, and expressed confidence that their inclusion would proceed smoothly.
India wanted as a friend by everyone in G7 & BRICS; some credit goes to Modi: Jim O’Neill
Jim O’Neill, Former Chief Economist, Goldman Sachs And Creator Of The BRICs Acronym, in conversation with ET Now at the Times Network India Economic Conclave. O’Neill says India is wanted as a friend by everyone in the G7 and by everybody in the BRICs. No one else is in that position and some credit has to go to Modi for that, but whether that is true or not, it is an incredibly fortunate thing in this very complicated stage of the world at the moment.
BRICS antitrust authorities turned against Covantis
At the 3rd BRICS + Digital Competition Forum, the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre presented a new methodological approach to analyzing and regulating food markets that takes into account their accelerating digitalisation. Specific tools that are being developed within the BRICS framework were also announced. One of the targeted tools will be the food market and restrictions on the activities of monopolists like Covantis.
Russia to implement its grain exchange, transport ideas in BRICS
Russia will continue its work in BRICS related to implementation of its grain exchange and transport dialog ideas, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov told the TASS Analytical Center in an interview.
Russia ready to host new BRICS events in 2025 — deputy foreign minister
Russia is ready to host a series of BRICS meetings in 2025, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who serves as Moscow’s BRICS sherpa, said in an interview with the TASS Analytical Center, summarising the outcomes of Russia’s chairmanship of the association.
President renews Sri Lanka’s bid to join BRICS
Sri Lanka has renewed its interest in joining BRICS, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake conveying the country’s aspirations during his three-day state visit to India.
Establishing BRICS human rights organisation could be beneficial — senior Russian diplomat
BRICS member states would gain from the establishment of an informal human rights organization within the association, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS.
List of BRICS partner states to be published in coming two weeks — Russian diplomat
The list of new BRICS partner states will be made public in the next two weeks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who serves as Moscow’s BRICS sherpa, said in an interview with the TASS Analytical Center.
