Diplomats, experts map future of BRICS +

New Delhi: Ahead of the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22-24, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov has said that new members are expected to join the BRICS grouping and underlined that this expansion would solidify BRICS as a significant platform for advancing the Global South’s interests and fostering equitable global development.
“BRICS has become an influential platform for developing and emerging economies to take forward a rich agenda and to promote democratization of the global governance reflective of our growing influence,” said the Russian envoy in his keynote address. “BRICS respects civilizational diversity and offers the platform for mutually beneficial dialogue free from pressure, double standards or interference in domestic affairs,” he said.
Alluding to the planned expansion of the grouping at the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, the Russian envoy said: “No wonder that a large number of countries has expressed interest in joining, and we see it natural for BRICS to expand in one way or another. After our membership has doubled last year, which is itself a landmark, we move towards the establishment of a partner-country category to enable interested states to join our practical cooperation.”
The online conference titled, “BRICS 2.0: New Members, New Horizons,” was organised by Centre for Global India Insights and India Writes Network in New Delhi on October 18. The conference focused on the ramifications of the planned BRICS expansion and the evolving role of the grouping in shaping a multipolar world.
“The Global South is rising, and the North is waking up to the urgency of accommodating rising and emerging powers, along with other developing countries, in this emerging global order. This is where the BRICS summit in Kazan will reflect this desire to forge an inclusive world order,” said Manish Chand, CEO, Centre for Global India Insights.
The theme of the Russian presidency for the summit is “Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security.”
Eminent diplomats and experts spoke at the conference, including South Africa’s High Commissioner-designate to India Anil Sooklal, Amb. Kanwal Sibal, a former foreign secretary, Amb. Sanjay Bhattacharya, India’s former BRICS sherpa, Victoria Pannova, a Russian expert on BRICS and Dipanjan Roy Chaudhary, Diplomatic Editor, Economic Times.
The South African envoy lauded the expansion as a “positive development,” reflecting the global community’s demand for new leadership. “This is why we see so many countries from the Global South, and even some from the Global North, knocking on BRICS’ door,” Mr Sooklal said, underscoring the BRICS’ growing stature.