The XVI BRICS Heads of State Meeting starts today in Kazan. The year of Russia’s presidency in the association can be called different from all previous ones, a new stage in the club’s development.

And that is not yet the limit

The main point of suspense surrounding the event is the question of the group’s future expansion. Throughout the year, there was constantly new information on the intentions of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to apply for membership in BRICS or BRICS Plus. The number of applicants is so large that it became necessary for the group to develop and agree on completely new procedures and categories. This takes time and the blueprint for how multilateral cooperation between BRICS and BRICS Plus (or BRICS partner states) will be arranged technically in terms of expansion remains open.

Another yet unanswered question related to the summit is the list of external participants. Aide to the Russian President Yuri Ushakov announced to journalists that the leadership of 32 countries will be in attendance, of which 24 will be represented at the highest level. Besides them, the heads of international organisations are also expected. Very soon we shall learn which states will officially announce their applications to join the group in Kazan or to ‘consolidate’ their place in BRICS Plus with their presence.

Finally, the summit’s final document, i.e. the declaration adopted as a result of negotiations, will be extremely important, fundamental to the international agenda. Past Russian........

© New Eastern Outlook