Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that 34 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, the international alliance of emerging economies.
During a meeting with BRICS officials, Putin gave an update on the status of the organization, which is currently under Russian chairmanship. The news was shared by Russian news agency Tass.
Wat is BRICS?
BRICS, currently consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, offers an alternative to the Western-dominated world order. The alliance seeks to increase geopolitical influence and economic cooperation among countries that do not want to conform to the norms and values of European and American institutions.
Putin emphasized the growing appeal of BRICS: “Right now, 34 countries have expressed their interest in becoming involved in some way with our group.” He called this an important signal that BRICS’ influence continues to grow.
Expansion and integration
Recently, BRICS has been expanded to include new members, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey is also on the verge of joining. The organization thus remains an increasingly attractive alternative for countries looking for a different economic and political model.
During the meeting, Putin reiterated Russia’s commitment to the smooth integration of new members. “Our chairmanship aims to assist in every way in the rapid and natural integration of new member states into BRICS,” Putin said.
Future plans
Putin also spoke about the possibility of establishing a BRICS parliament, which he said would be an important step in promoting multilateralism and global justice. “Parliaments play a crucial role in promoting democracy, sovereignty and mutual respect,” he added.
BRICS has grown in a short time from a small collective of emerging economies to a powerful geopolitical bloc that attracts more and more countries. What once started as a loose association is now rapidly developing into a serious counterpart to existing global structures.
Source: https://newsbit.nl/34-landen-tonen-interesse-in-brics-poetin-benadrukt-groeiende-invloed/
