Moscow, Oct 13: BRICS has never been and is not planning to become a military union, despite any allegations to the contrary, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“BRICS is not, has never been and is not going to become a military union. BRICS is not even an international organisation or an integration structure, but a multinational union of equal members,” the ministry said in a statement on Saturday, commenting on an article published in The Times in September, which suggested that the extension of BRICS “should worry NATO.”
BRICS is a multidisciplinary strategic partnership that rests on three pillars: politics and security, economics and finance, and culture and humanitarian ties, the ministry added.
“Relations between the BRICS partners are based on equality, mutual respect, openness, pragmatism, solidarity and, which is the most important of all, not opposing anyone,” the statement read.
One of BRICS’ main objectives is to create a fair and multilateral world economic system, the ministry also said, adding that since its conception, the bloc has supported peaceful resolution of international disputes based on international law and respect for sovereignty of all states.
The extension of BRICS reflects changes in the world economy and contributes to strengthening the role of developing states in international affairs, the ministry also said.
BRICS is an intergovernmental association created in 2006. Russia assumed the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2024. The year began with the accession of new members to the association ? in addition to Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Russia’s BRICS presidency focuses on strengthening multilateralism for fair global development and security. As part of its presidency, Russia is organizing more than 200 political, economic and social events.
(UNI)
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