Ambassador: BRICS alignment strengthens Azerbaijan's global strategy

Strengthening cooperation with BRICS serves Azerbaijan's national interests and aligns with its broader foreign policy goals, stated Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Rahman Mustafayev in an interview with Tatarstan-24 TV channel.

The diplomat underscored that this cooperation “organically fits” into Baku's consistent approach to fostering a fairer world order and creating equal opportunities for all nations.

"On the one hand, Azerbaijan advocates for increasing the authority of the UN, its role and effectiveness as a universal organization designed to play a central coordinating role in international relations, and on the other hand, it shares the ideology of a multipolar world, the formation of a world order free from double standards and excluding the creation of dividing lines," Mustafayev stated.

He further emphasized the strategic importance of collaboration with BRICS, noting that the organization accounts for “almost 35 per cent of the earth's land area, 45 per cent of the world's population, 30 per cent of the world's GDP, over 40 per cent of the world's oil production, and 70 per cent of the world's rare earth minerals, which are the basis of the industrial revolution.”

Mustafayev highlighted BRICS' focus on the global South, a region where Azerbaijan has historically played a crucial and often proactive role. He pointed out that Azerbaijan's foreign policy is closely aligned with BRICS’ ideology and practical support for the principles of multipolarity and increasing the role of developing nations in global politics and economics.

“Baku's interest in intensifying cooperation with BRICS is a natural continuation of its strategy of a balanced approach to the issues of world politics and international cooperation,” Mustafayev said, adding that this strategy is particularly relevant given the current state of international relations. "As Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated during his address to the Milli Majlis (Parliament) on September 23, the security architecture formed after World War II has been almost completely destroyed."

Established in 2006 as a multilateral interstate association, BRICS originally included Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining later. In 2024, the group welcomed new members, including Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia.

In August 2024, it was announced that Azerbaijan had formally applied to join BRICS. This followed the adoption of a "Joint Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China" at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana on July 3. The declaration highlighted Azerbaijan’s interest in BRICS membership, which was met with a positive response from China.

Sahiba Gafarova, Chairwoman of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis, also confirmed Azerbaijan's aspiration to become a full member of BRICS during her speech at the X BRICS Parliamentary Forum in St. Petersburg on July 11.

Other countries that have expressed interest in joining BRICS include Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Chad, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Honduras, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.

The next BRICS summit kicks off today, October 22, in Kazan and is scheduled to be concluded on October 24.

By Tamilla Hasanova