The 16th BRICS Summit, held from October 22-24 in Kazan, Russia, featured participation from newly admitted members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, marking their first summit since joining BRICS in January. Over 32 countries attended the summit, including all current BRICS members.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, also President Putin’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, emphasized that BRICS membership allows countries to reduce dependency on the dollar, traditionally driven by Western economies. “This association has immense potential,” Bogdanov remarked during the IV International Expert Forum “Russia – Middle East,” adding that BRICS has drawn increasing interest from nations wanting to engage in collaborative global efforts.
Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, Head of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Abuja in Nigeria, noted the growing interest of African nations in BRICS. He highlighted the recent summit as a crucial development in global politics and economics, reflecting BRICS’ widening influence and appeal among countries aiming to strengthen their economic and political sovereignty.
