BRICS members begin to develop criteria for the expansion of the group

BRICS members have begun to formulate criteria for the expansion of the group. It is noted that the corresponding concept and principles will be prepared within the next three months. As reported by TASS referring to the words of the Ambassador for Special Assignments for Asia and BRICS in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, the Sherpa of the Republic of South Africa in BRICS, Anil Sooklal. The criteria worked out by the members of the alliance will be presented in June this year at the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the BRICS member states.

"At a meeting of the BRICS sherpas and sous-sherpas in South Africa in early February, we started discussing the expansion of BRICS," said the diplomat.

According to Sooklal, this was followed by the implementation of the June 2022 BRICS summit, where statements were made about the need to develop criteria for admission of new members to the group.

The Ambassador also said that the Sherpas at the meeting in South Africa agreed to develop and adopt the BRICS enlargement concept. Three more meetings will be held to reach consensus on the criteria for recommendations, principles and approaches for approving applications for membership.

Several countries have expressed a desire to join BRICS. Algeria, Argentina and Iran have already applied to join. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are still considering such a possibility.

On the eve, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called Algeria one of the main candidates to join the BRICS. The country decided to join the group last November.

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