South Africa publishes list of countries that applied to join BRICS

WORLD, Aug 14 (YPA) – South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said that twenty-two nations have asked formally to become full-time members of the BRICS, including 8 Arab countries.

“During the summit, the leaders of the BRICS countries will discuss the issue of enlargement of the organization. We remember that South Africa became the first country to join the organization after its founding. South Africa, as BRICS chair, will hold talks at the summit on the expansion model, principles and standards. We are gradually moving towards a consensus on BRICS expansion issues and hope to reach it at the summit,” Naledi Pandor said in a press conference.

She published the list of countries that have applied to join the BRICS, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, while the other countries are Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Venezuela, Vietnam, Cuba, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Thailand and Ethiopia.

The South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi pointed out that a special report will be presented at the summit on the principles of the expansion of the “BRICS” and the list of countries wishing to join it, confirming that “the leaders will make a final decision in this regard.”

The BRICS summit will be held from August 22 to 24 in Johannesburg under the presidency of South Africa.

E.M