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| BRICS has undergone two expansions since its inception in 2006. (Photo: Getty Images) |
“Cuba has sent an official request to join BRICS as a partner country in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the group’s chairman. BRICS is now consolidating its position as a global political force and promoting the Global South as a key player,” Carlos Miguel Pereira wrote on the social network X.
Also on October 7, Russian Ambassador to Cuba Viktor Koronelli confirmed that Cuba has officially requested to join BRICS. He also said that Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel has been invited to attend BRICS Plus/Outreach, an expanded meeting of the group at the upcoming BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.
Earlier, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla affirmed his country's determination to strengthen relations with BRICS.
BRICS has undergone two expansions since its inception in 2006. In 2011, South Africa joined the original members of Brazil, Russia, India and China. In early 2024, BRICS welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while deciding to retain the original five-letter acronym of the founding countries.
At a press conference in Moscow on October 3, when asked about the conditions for becoming a BRICS member, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said: “Candidates need to pursue a sovereign policy, play an important role in international and regional issues, build good-neighborly and friendly relations with BRICS countries and not participate in illegal sanctions against members of the association.”
Moscow considers the sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies over the Ukraine conflict to be illegal and unjustified. Enlargement should always be aimed at strengthening BRICS' international competence and authority, Ryabkov added, noting that all decisions within the association are made by consensus.
Russia holds the rotating presidency of the group this year and will host the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan from October 22-24. One of the topics of interest at the event could be China’s peace initiative for Ukraine.
BRICS has a total population of about 47% of the world's population and a total GDP of more than 36% of global GDP. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said that 34 countries have expressed their readiness to join BRICS in different forms./.
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