Syria submits application to join BRICS

Syria has expressed its desire to join BRICS and has officially submitted an application, according to Bashar Jaafari, the Syrian ambassador to the Russian Federation.

“We are very interested in joining BRICS. We have sent written requests to join the organization,” Jaafari stated while speaking to Russian media during the forum "North Caucasus: New Geostrategic Opportunities", Caliber.Az reports. 

BRICS, an interstate association established in 2006, originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa later joined, and starting in 2024, the group will also welcome Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia.

In August, it was reported that Azerbaijan had submitted its own application to join BRICS. Additionally, on July 3, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, a "Joint Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China" was adopted. This declaration included Azerbaijan's interest in joining BRICS, which was welcomed by China.

Sahiba Gafarova, Chairwoman of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament), reiterated this desire during her address at the X BRICS Parliamentary Forum in St. Petersburg on July 11, confirming Azerbaijan's aspiration to become a full member of BRICS.

Other countries seeking to join 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 is scheduled to take place in Kazan from October 22 to 24.

By Tamilla Hasanova