Russia and China are seeking to enhance ties with Iran and Arab states at the BRICS foreign ministers meeting this week in Moscow, following the admission of the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Egypt to the bloc earlier this year.
What happened: The meeting is taking place on Monday and Tuesday in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod. Representatives from 22 countries are attending. On Monday, delegations from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Brazil, China, India and South Africa, in addition to Russia, will participate in sessions. Officials from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mauritania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam are expected to attend events on Tuesday, Russia’s official Tass news agency reported.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2006. The founders were later joined by South Africa in 2010. The group functions as a geopolitical bloc to counter Western influence and seeks to promote cooperation between its members.
The foreign ministers meeting is the first of its kind since BRICS expanded in January, adding the UAE, Egypt, Iran and Ethiopia as full members. Saudi Arabia is reportedly considering an offer to join.
