A New Country Requests to Join BRICS

Azerbaijan has submitted an official application to join the BRICS group, which includes three Arab countries and global economies, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Tuesday. Baku has expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with the BRICS group. A joint statement published yesterday by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that Moscow supports Azerbaijan's aspiration. The BRICS group comprises Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, representing 45 percent of the world's population. Russia has been presiding over BRICS since January 1, 2024, coinciding with the group's historic expansion, and the city of Kazan in Russia is scheduled to host the group's summit from October 22 to 24.