The BRICS group’s contribution to the global economy reaches 31.5% (Reuters)
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said on Wednesday that 5 out of 6 countries that were invited to join the BRICS group last year have confirmed their joining: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Ethiopia and Iran.
Pandor said in statements at a press conference in the capital, Johannesburg, “Argentina wrote to us to indicate that it will not take a decision on this successful application submitted by the previous government to join as a full member of BRICS, and we accept its decision.”
The five countries, along with Argentina, were invited during a summit held in Johannesburg last August to join the group, which consists of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa, with the joining starting from the beginning of this year. While those countries agreed to join, Argentina I declined the invitation.
Since last December, Argentina has been headed by Javier Milley, who belongs to the extreme right-wing movement and is a supporter of the Western camp led by the United States.
The BRICS bloc was established in 2006, and held its first meetings in 2009. The group considers itself an alternative to Western economic hegemony, represented by the Group of Seven major countries, led by the United States. It also believes that the group will contribute to restoring balance to the global system, which it describes as outdated. .
The BRICS contribution to the global economy reached 31.5%, before the five new countries joined, compared to 30.7% for the seven industrial powers.
Source: Agencies