MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has maintained that leaders of BRICS nations focus on real issues, diverging from the tendency of Western politicians and reporters to engage primarily in rhetoric.
In an interview on the program “Moscow. Kremlin. Putin” aired on the Rossiya-1 television channel, Lavrov commented on the manner in which Western politicians and reporters condescendingly discussed the BRICS. He underscored that while Western counterparts are often preoccupied with verbal debates, BRICS leaders are committed to addressing concrete and pertinent issues.
Lavrov’s observations come in the aftermath of the BRICS summit held in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24. The summit marked a significant gathering of heads of state and government from countries in the Global South, with a special invitation extended to leaders from 54 African nations.
BRICS Approves Joining New Members
During the summit, the participating countries collectively agreed on the inclusion of Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as new members to the BRICS group, effective from January 1, 2024. Further discussions will take place to compile a list of potential additional new members for consideration at the next summit.
Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s BRICS sherpa, revealed that approximately 30 nations have expressed interest in joining the group, with some having already submitted formal applications.
The comments made by Lavrov highlight the BRICS leaders’ dedication to addressing tangible issues of global significance, standing in contrast to what he characterizes as mere verbal posturing often seen in Western political discourse.
