South Africa announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend a BRICS nations summit in August, adding that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will head Moscow’s delegation.
“By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the summit,” Vincent Magwenya, a spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said on Wednesday.
The BRICS group includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. However, a South African diplomat highlighted that the group may be eventually expanded to include as many as 50 member countries.
Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa and Ambassador-at-Large for Asia and BRICS, noted: “BRICS represents the world of the future and the global South has risen and become increasingly influential.”
Sooklal added: “BRICS must be seen as a catalyst to bring change to the world for the better.”
The official pointed out that many countries are seeking BRICS membership at this point, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, and Argentina.
