Russian President Vladimir Putin beforehand sought to model BRICS as an alliance of “the worldwide majority” as a part of Moscow’s efforts to problem a dominant West and evade sanctions associated to Russia’s conflict on Ukraine. The group has additionally been on the forefront of a push to interchange the greenback as the important thing forex of worldwide commerce.
Membership of BRICS is invitation-only, however a number of international locations got the prospect to affix firstly of this yr.
The Azerbaijan announcement comes after Putin landed within the capital, Baku, on Sunday for bilateral talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. On Monday Aliyev hailed the truth that “our financial and commerce relations are progressing efficiently” regardless of world challenges.
The pair take pleasure in a rosy relationship. They signed a “declaration on allied interplay” in February 2022, simply days earlier than Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On the similar time, nevertheless, Azerbaijan has turn into an more and more important vitality companion for Europe, having signed a deal in mid-2022 with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen to assist the continent wean itself off Russian oil and gasoline. The fossil fuel-rich state has since turn into a serious buying and selling companion for the EU, regardless of calls in Brussels for it to face sanctions over human rights abuses.
Azerbaijan will host this yr’s COP29 U.N. local weather talks, with diplomats, specialists and environmental activists heading to Baku for the high-profile assembly.
