South Africa’s BRICS Summit Gathers Momentum: 23 Countries Apply for Membership
South Africa, the host of this year’s BRICS summit, has announced that 23 countries have officially applied to join the economic bloc.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has extended invitations to 67 leaders and 20 representatives of major organizations for the upcoming BRICS summit. Notably absent from the list is French President Emmanuel Macron.
The summit, scheduled for August 22-24 in Johannesburg, will feature the participation of leaders such as China’s President Xi Jinping, Brazil’s President Luiz Lula da Silva, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 23 countries seeking BRICS membership include Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Venezuela, Vietnam, Cuba, Honduras, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, State of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia.
The summit will involve discussions on expansion principles, with leaders making the final decision on the matter. Additionally, President Ramaphosa’s invitations encompass leaders from diverse regions, while Macron’s absence is noteworthy due to his prior expression of interest in attending the summit.
Clever Robot News Desk 10th August 2023