Lavrov outlines Russia's vision for the future of BRICS

By Rhod Mackenzie

According to Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, BRICS should remain an association and not be turned into a full-fledged organization with a secretariat. Lavrov stated in an interview with the Russian channel NTV that 'BRICS is not an organization, but an association.'

The Foreign Minister stated that there is no interest in establishing a formal organization with a secretariat at this stage.

He referred to the association as a 'future umbrella' and highlighted that BRICS is a symbol of the world's majority desire to develop initiatives while considering each other's interests.

Lavrov stated that there are no organizations in the West with fair rules that promote equality and genuine consensus. He recalled a recent episode where German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reportedly suggested to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to “grab a coffee” during a crucial meeting of EU leaders in Brussels to prevent him from vetoing a motion to begin formal accession talks with Ukraine.

In 2024, Russia will take over the chairmanship ofBRICS , which currently comprises Brazil, India, China, and South Africa. From January 1, the association will be joined by Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Argentina has announced that it will not be joining BRICS as planned. Argentine President Javier Milei has expressed reluctance to support economic ties with China and Brazil and is planning to work towards economic rapprochement with the US and Israel.
According to South Africa, over 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS. In early October,the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that BRICS intends to create a list of candidates for the union's partner-state status before the upcoming 2024 summit in Kazan. According to the official, Russia's priority during its upcoming BRICS chairmanship is to expand the circle of BRICS friends, including Latin American countries, and increase the use of national currencies for payments.

In an October interview with the China Media Group, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that BRICS is expanding in accordance with the principle of global multipolarity. Putin stated that no nation desires to be at the mercy of a single sovereign and act on their whims. BRICS provides a platform for countries to interact as equals.