Russian president Vladimir Putin while addressing the Plenary Session of the 16th Brics Summit on Wednesday revealed that over 30 countries have expressed interest in joining the group.
Addressing world leaders at the Kazan Expo Center in Kazan, Putin said that its expansion would be discussed by the group at the meeting but it was important to strike a balance in any expansion, as per Reuters.
He said, "It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest of the countries of the Global South and East in strengthening contacts with Brics.”
"At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a balance and prevent a decrease in the effectiveness of the Brics," he added.
The Russian leader further said that the grouping would also be discussing "acute regional conflicts."
Later today, PM Modi is set to have a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit.
This meeting, scheduled to take place in the capital of Tatarstan, would mark the first formal interaction between the two leaders in five years. The two countries would be exploring crucial themes such as reaching a pact on resuming regular patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Meanwhile, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, shared a joint photo of the leaders of the grouping, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi that was taken ahead of the Summit.
Taking to his X platform Jaiswal wrote, "Stronger and united together for an inclusive and a multipolar world. A historic moment for the Brics as the leaders take the first photo of the expanded Brics family at the XVI Brics Summit."
https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1849006046406218118
After the photograph session, PM Modi and UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan were seen interacting.
Yesterday, while addressing a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized that the BRICS Summit will concentrate on developing modalities and guidelines for a partner country model. He also mentioned that the discussions between PM Modi and President Putin included this model.
He said, "I think one of the focus areas is, I wouldn't say the expansion of BRICS, but what we are discussing right now which is the modalities and guidelines for implementing a partner country model with BRICS. So that is one of the focus areas for this summit."
He added, "With regard to discussions between Prime Minister and President Putin on some of the issues that are being discussed in BRICS on membership is a partner country model that is under discussion. The guidelines, modalities and the parameters of this model are under discussion. This is something that is still a work in progress at this point. So, I don't want to go beyond my brief and comment on something that is still under discussion. Again, there might be developments later..."
BRIC originated as a formal grouping following the meeting of the leaders of Russia, India, and China in St. Petersburg during the G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. It was formalized at the first BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later that year. The inaugural BRIC Summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
BRIC expanded into BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in 2010. South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya in 2011. It further expanded in 2024 with five new members - Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Addressing world leaders at the Kazan Expo Center in Kazan, Putin said that its expansion would be discussed by the group at the meeting but it was important to strike a balance in any expansion, as per Reuters.
He said, "It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest of the countries of the Global South and East in strengthening contacts with Brics.”
"At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a balance and prevent a decrease in the effectiveness of the Brics," he added.
The Russian leader further said that the grouping would also be discussing "acute regional conflicts."
Later today, PM Modi is set to have a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit.
This meeting, scheduled to take place in the capital of Tatarstan, would mark the first formal interaction between the two leaders in five years. The two countries would be exploring crucial themes such as reaching a pact on resuming regular patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Meanwhile, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, shared a joint photo of the leaders of the grouping, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi that was taken ahead of the Summit.
Taking to his X platform Jaiswal wrote, "Stronger and united together for an inclusive and a multipolar world. A historic moment for the Brics as the leaders take the first photo of the expanded Brics family at the XVI Brics Summit."
https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1849006046406218118
After the photograph session, PM Modi and UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan were seen interacting.
Yesterday, while addressing a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized that the BRICS Summit will concentrate on developing modalities and guidelines for a partner country model. He also mentioned that the discussions between PM Modi and President Putin included this model.
He said, "I think one of the focus areas is, I wouldn't say the expansion of BRICS, but what we are discussing right now which is the modalities and guidelines for implementing a partner country model with BRICS. So that is one of the focus areas for this summit."
He added, "With regard to discussions between Prime Minister and President Putin on some of the issues that are being discussed in BRICS on membership is a partner country model that is under discussion. The guidelines, modalities and the parameters of this model are under discussion. This is something that is still a work in progress at this point. So, I don't want to go beyond my brief and comment on something that is still under discussion. Again, there might be developments later..."
BRIC originated as a formal grouping following the meeting of the leaders of Russia, India, and China in St. Petersburg during the G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. It was formalized at the first BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later that year. The inaugural BRIC Summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
BRIC expanded into BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in 2010. South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya in 2011. It further expanded in 2024 with five new members - Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
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