On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the BRICS group of major emerging nations is receiving support from “like-minded countries” that share its underlying principles, as his country assumed the bloc’s 2024 chairmanship.
In line with the resolution of the 15th BRICS Summit in August 2022, Russia assumed its presidency on 1 January 2024.
BRICS currently comprises ten countries; the original five, namely, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa; and five new members who recently joined the bloc (i.e., Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE). Together, the grouping now represents more than 40% of the world’s population and over 30% of global gross domestic product (GDP).
Putin’s Address
In his address, Putin noted that the bloc’s underlying principles include “sovereign equality, respect for the chosen path of development, mutual consideration of interests, openness, consensus, the aspiration to form a multipolar international order and a fair global financial and trade system, and the pursuit of collective solutions to top challenges of our time.”
He stated that the motto for the Russian BRICS Chairmanship in 2024 will be “Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security,” and that Moscow will focus on positive and constructive cooperation with all countries involved.
The Russian leader added that the state would decide how many other nations are willing to join the bloc. “About 30 of them are prepared to join the BRICS multidimensional agenda in one form or another. To this end, we will start working on the modalities of a new category of BRICS partner country,” Putin said.
Putin affirmed that Russia will continue to promote all parts of the BRICS partnership in three key areas: politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian contacts.
“Our priorities include promoting cooperation in science, high technology, healthcare, environmental protection, culture, sports, youth exchanges, and civil society,” he added.
💬 President Vladimir Putin: On January 1, Russia was passed the baton of the #BRICS.
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) January 1, 2024
☝️ We will continue to promote all aspects of the BRICS partnership: politics and security, economy and finance, as well as cultural and humanitarian contacts.
🔗 https://t.co/ixAbRDh5OP pic.twitter.com/LSPKE8k0cY
Russia’s Focus on Foreign Policy Coordination
Putin stated that Russia’s goal is to enhance foreign policy coordination among member countries and work together to find effective responses to challenges and threats to international and regional security and stability.
“We will contribute to the practical implementation of the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025 and the Action Plan for BRICS Innovation Cooperation 2021-2024,” Putin explained, adding that this involves “ensuring energy and food security, enhancing the role of BRICS in the international monetary system, expanding interbank cooperation and expanding the use of national currencies in mutual trade.”
As part of the Russian chairmanship, Putin said more than 200 events “of different levels and types” will be organised in various Russian cities.
“The BRICS Summit in (the Russian city of) Kazan in October will be the culmination of our chairmanship,” the leader revealed.
In his concluding remarks, Putin stated, as “Russia assumes its chairmanship, it looks forward to working productively with all countries in the BRICS orbit.”