CAPETOWN- BRICS foreign ministers and Friends of BRICS gathered ahead of the much anticipated BRICS conference in Johannesburg, the BRICS conference is the first of its kind since the COVID-19 Pandemic ravaged the economies of the world.
The ministers discussed the failure of developed countries to aid growing nations’ that were setback for decades by the pandemic.
South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor called for the coming together of world powers to address, among others, the grave economic risks impacting developing countries.
“The poor and marginalized are facing the greatest threat in that their plight is forgotten while the so-called world powers fight. This is not the world that BRICS governments promised in Agenda 2030” said Minister Naledi Pandor.
The ministers also expressed concerns over unilateral Coercive measures incompatible with the UN charter in some member states. BRICS ministers encouraged the use of local currencies in international trade among BRICS countries and their trading partners to push back restrictions on trade made complex by sanctions, boycotts, embargoes, and blockades.
There’s growing interest in joining the BRICS bloc by other nations. More than 24 countries reportedly expressed interest in partnering with BRICS. The list of countries eyeing cooperation with the bloc includes the world’s top oil producer Saudi Arabia, Argentina rich in natural resources, the UAE, Egypt, Thailand, Pakistan, Mexico, Indonesia, Iran, and Turkey.
Experts say more countries joining the group could signal a new era of Global cooperation and growth led by the BRICS Alliance.
Meanwhile, the world is watching closely if South Africa will abide by the International Criminal Court’s obligation to arrest Russia president Vladimir Putin at the upcoming BRICS conference scheduled for August 2023 in South Africa.
The ICC accused the Russian leader of war crimes in Ukraine, a charge denied by Moscow.
South Africa is yet again at crossroads with the ICC. In 2009, March the nation reportedly refused to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir accused by the international body of crimes against humanity.
It’s not clear what will be South Africa’ s decision. BRICS leaders reportedly talked about the possibility to move the August Conference to China, but South African Officials have come out to say the country will go ahead with plans to host the 4TH BRICS Conference.
