South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced the entry of Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates into the BRICS group of emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Africa).
“We have decided to invite the Republic of Argentina, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to become full members, effective January 1, 2024. he announced.
The South African leader spoke at a joint press conference in Sandton about the outcome of the deliberations of the 15th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the BRICS, which ended today in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ramaphosa said BRICS leaders adopted the “Johannesburg II” statement from the 15th BRICS summit.
The bloc currently accounts for more than 42% of world production and is expected to transform the global economy by 2030 as it is Africa’s largest trading partner.
Over the past two days, heads of state from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have engaged in talks on a variety of topics, including strengthening cooperation in security, energy, trade, economics and social affairs.
Brazil, India and South Africa were represented by their respective heads of state at the BRICS Summit, which took place between August 22 and 24.
Russia, which is also part of the bloc, was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
About 1,500 business leaders from different countries participated in the bloc’s business forum, according to the South African president.
Lula da Silva says new members such as Argentina testify to the relevance of the BRICS
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that the entry of six new countries to the BRICS group, such as Argentina, to which he sent a “special message” testifies to the relevance of the emerging economies bloc.
“The relevance of the BRICS is confirmed by the growing interest shown by other countries to join the group,” Lula said at the end of the 15th summit of the group formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and Southern Africa, which takes place today in Johannesburg, Africa, southern.
Lula stated that “it is with satisfaction that Brazil welcomes the BRICS in Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Iran”, which will formally join the group from January 1, 2024.
‘Now the gross domestic product of the BRICS countries is rising to 36% of GDP [produto interno bruto] in purchasing power parity and 46% of the world’s population,” he underlined.
Currently, the bloc accounts for more than 42% of the world’s population and 30% of the planet’s territory, in addition to 23% of global GDP and 18% of world trade.
With the entry of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran announced today, the bloc of emerging economies now also represents six of the world’s nine largest oil producers, along with Russia, China and Brazil.
The South American leader, a former union leader like his South African host Cyril Ramaphosa, stated that the bloc “will remain open to new candidates” and that “criteria and procedures for future memberships” were also approved to that end.
In his speech, Brazil’s president also stated that the BRICS had also approved the creation of a working group to study the adoption of a “reference currency” for the BRICS.
“This measure could increase our payment options and reduce our vulnerabilities,” he added.
The Brazilian head of state also highlighted the decision regarding global governance reform, especially in relation to the United Nations Security Council, and concluded with a “special message” to his Argentine counterpart.
“Finally, I dedicate a special message to dear Alberto Fernández, President of Argentina and a close friend of Brazil and the developing world: We will continue to move forward side by side with our Argentinian brothers in yet another international forum,” Lula said. da Silva.
Tehran calls the accession a “strategic success” for Iranian diplomacy
Iran’s membership in the BRICS is a “strategic success for Tehran’s foreign policy”. “Permanent membership in the group of emerging world economies is a historic event and a strategic success for the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic,” said Mohamed Jamshidi, political adviser to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a post published on the social network X ( formerly Twitter). ).
In recent years, Iran has turned to organizations without Western nations, aiming to break its isolation and revive an economy weakened by Western sanctions.
The Islamic Republic thus joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional bloc founded in 2001, of which China and Russia are among the founding members.
At the same time, Tehran has strengthened its ties with Beijing and Moscow as part of an east-facing strategy, while relations with western countries remain strained despite indirect talks with Washington.
Source: DN
