BRICS Plus: Nicaragua and Central African Republic have expressed their desire to join the organization

By Rhod Mackenzie

According to Patricia Alonso Lopez, Vice-President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Arling, Nicaragua is interested in joining BRICS and developing relations with Russia. The Central African Republic has also expressed interest in cooperating with the association. Albert Yaloke Mokpeme, the representative of its president, even stated that his country already considers itself part of this bloc. Several countries may soon take the place vacated by Argentina in BRICS. Several countries may soon take the place vacated by Argentina in BRICS. An article in Izvestia discusses Latin America's commitment to cooperation with the Russian Federation.

Several countries may soon take the place vacated by Argentina in BRICS.
After receiving an official notification from Argentina, which was supposed to join BRICS on January 1, 2024, about its refusal to join the bloc, the vacant seat can be applied for.

Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Venezuela, Vietnam, Cuba, Honduras, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Palestine, Senegal, Thailand and Pakistan have already submitted applications. However, Nicaragua and other countries have also expressed interest in joining BRICS.
In the near future, we envision ourselves as part of the BRICS group. This presents an excellent opportunity for us to receive assistance in the fight against poverty,” stated Arling Patricia Alonso Lopez, Vice President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua, in a conversation with Izvestia.

The politician did not specify whether her country's government plans to submit an application in the near future. However, she emphasized that Russia and Nicaragua already have the necessary legal documents to determine the path of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, including education, healthcare, culture, telecommunications, defense, and security.

In November 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the Commander-in-Chief of the Nicaraguan Army, Julio Cesar Aviles Castillo, held negotiations. Both parties expressed a desire to continue interacting through military departments.

Additionally, the Central African Republic has expressed interest in joining BRICS. Therefore, Albert Yaloke Mokpeme, the representative of the President of the Central African Republic, informed Izvestia that his country has proposed collaborative projects to the BRICS countries.

President Faustin-Archange Touadera accompanied the Central African delegation to the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in 2023. Initially, the CAR submitted 12 projects to various countries in the association, covering energy, finance, infrastructure, and other areas. These projects were selected for implementation by several countries, including India, China, Russia, and the UAE. Albert Yaloke Mokpeme stated, 'Today, we believe that we are already one of the BRICS countries.'
Last year, Sylvie Baypo-Temon, the head of the African country's Foreign Ministry, stated that the CAR desires to join BRICS, but the republic does not yet meet the necessary criteria.

Bolivia has already submitted an application and hopes to receive an invitation to join BRICS during Russia's chairmanship in the association. The Republic's Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Maria Luisa Ramos Ursagaste, has previously discussed this.

The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to achieve full accession to BRICS to utilise new mechanisms of international relations that reduce dependence on the dollar in trade transactions. This statement was made to Izvestia in December 2023. However, the diplomat clarified that Bolivia's inclusion in BRICS will depend on the organization's members, who are currently determining the formats for the accession of new members and partners.
Regarding Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro expressed hope for the country to become a full member of the unification summit in October 2024 in Kazan. Caracas sees economic potential in the bloc and is relying on BRICS for a new world balance.
On February 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to travel to Venezuela to meet with Maduro. Observers speculate that the topic of Caracas joining BRICS may be discussed during the negotiations.

Latin American countries are interested in cooperation with Russia and BRICS
as they seek an alternative, according to Alexander Savchenko, a professor at the Department of Public Administration and Public Policy at RANEPA.

Latin American countries are seeking foreign economic and foreign policy options that do not lead to simple dependence on the United States. According to an expert, they are all trying to find a path to their national interests.

Arling Patricia Alonso Lopez confirms that neocolonialism leads to poverty, aggression, robbery, exploitation, and domination. She stated, 'We aim to eliminate external interference and work towards achieving our goal of a just, peaceful, and prosperous society. Our people deserve it.'
Prior to this, the Russian Foreign Ministry's head stated that BRICS is not intended for confrontation and does not aim to establish a mechanism for a new world majority dictate, unlike the West, which disregards the association's member states and the Global South, including their stance on the Ukrainian crisis.

It is encouraging to see BRICS receiving such support. Expressing a desire to participate in an association can elevate the status of an international organization and increase its influence in the global arena. This positive process can be further supported through humanitarian and educational efforts,” according to Alexander Savchenko.

However, the expert notes that it is important to differentiate between countries' willingness to collaborate with Russia on a bilateral basis versus within the framework of BRICS. According to him, association members can turn to Russia at any time on any issue. However, decisions will always be made collectively.