Belarus’ BRICS membership application submitted in May – foreign ministry

July 26, BPN. Belarus applied in May for membership of BRICS, an economic bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the Belarusian foreign ministry said.

The move is “an absolutely logical step” as Belarus seeks to expand multilateral cooperation with its traditional partners and friendly countries, it noted.

Global importance and influence of BRICS “will steadily grow” as the bloc is reportedly discussing new criteria for membership and other formats of cooperation, the ministry added.

Foreign ministers are expected to submit their recommendations to the heads of BRICS member states during a high-level summit scheduled for August 2023. “We count on the further progressive development of our interaction with BRICS in various possible formats,” the foreign ministry said.

A total of 25 countries have already applied to join BRICS whose members account for over 40% of the world’s population and 30% of the global GDP, it added.