Russian Foreign Ministry: further BRICS expansion should be postponed until Kazan summit

Discussion of further BRICS expansion should be postponed until the summit in Kazan, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Russia's BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS.

"We should provide countries interested in rapprochement with BRICS with a platform where they can work in practical terms without feeling bypassed and as if they are being built into this rhythm of interaction. And how the issue of further expansion will be resolved should be postponed, at least for the judgement of the leaders when they gather in Kazan," the diplomat said when asked whether the expansion of the alliance will continue during the Russian presidency.

Sergey Ryabkov stressed that the alliance will retain its name in the future even after the expansion, as it has already become a brand and a recognisable "trademark".

Speaking about the tasks facing the alliance, the Deputy Minister emphasised that the BRICS should first of all integrate those countries that have recently joined. Next, it is necessary to develop categories of partner states and compile a list of them. The diplomat noted that the new BRICS members have already shown their eagerness to be on top of the emerging challenges.

"We do not know yet how the countries that joined the alliance on 1 January will behave and show themselves. The first introductory contacts demonstrate on their part an absolute desire to rise to the new status and challenges"

Sergey Ryabkov Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

As for the list of invitees to the summit in Kazan, Sergey Ryabkov said that it would be ready no sooner than the completion of procedures related to the Russian presidential election.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman added that BRICS could set up an exchange of raw materials.

"There have been no approaches, even primary ones, to it. But it shows that BRICS has a place to move, to develop. For example, the creation of an exchange of raw materials," he said when asked about options for regulating prices in key sectors such as energy, agriculture.

BRICS has undergone two waves of expansion since its founding in 2006. In 2011, South Africa joined the original membership of Brazil, Russia, India and China, and in August 2023, the association invited six new members – Argentina, Egypt, Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. Subsequently, Argentina declined to join the alliance and the remaining 5 countries became part of the alliance from 1 January 2024.

The BRICS chairmanship was taken over by Russia from January, it will last until the end of this year and includes more than 200 events. The main event will be the summit of the BRICS heads of state in October 2024 in Kazan.