A bold move that could reshape geopolitical dynamics, Pakistan has officially applied for membership in the BRICS Group of Nations Union, with aspirations to join the alliance under Russian chairmanship in 2024. The news, reported by the Russian news agency TASS, was confirmed in a recent interview with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali.
The BRICS alliance, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has been a prominent player on the global stage since its formation in 2010. In a surprising turn of events, the group decided at its last summit in South Africa to extend invitations to six additional countries: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The membership of these new entrants is set to take effect on January 1, 2024.
Ambassador Jamali expressed Pakistan's keen interest in becoming a part of this influential organization. In his statement to TASS, he affirmed, “Pakistan would like to be part of this important organization, and we are in the process of contacting member countries for extending support to Pakistan’s membership, in general, and the Russian Federation in particular.”
This move comes at a crucial time as Russia prepares to reassume the role of chairmanship within the BRICS group in 2024. Russia last chaired the alliance in 2020, handing over the presidency to India in January 2021. India's theme for its BRICS Chairship was ‘BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation, and Consensus.’
The BRICS alliance, which brings together five of the largest developing countries in the world, represents a staggering 41% of the global population, approximately 24% of the global GDP, and around 16% of global trade. This expansion of BRICS is not a mere isolated incident; it is part of a broader plan. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov revealed in October that BRICS intends to agree on a list of candidates for partner-state status during the upcoming summit in Kazan, southwest Russia.
Ryabkov emphasized the importance of expanding the "circle of BRICS friends," with a specific focus on Latin America. Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed this sentiment, stating, "We should let more countries join the BRICS family to pool wisdom and efforts to make global governance more just and equitable."
Despite Ambassador Jamali's confirmation of Pakistan's application to BRICS, there have been no official reports from the alliance regarding the inclusion of Pakistan as a member. The upcoming BRICS summit promises to be a significant event, potentially paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse global alliance that could redefine international relations in the years to come.
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