Over 30 nations have confirmed their participation in the upcoming BRICS summit, scheduled to take place in Kazan, Russia. Tatarstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Shamil Gafarov, revealed on Monday that most attendees will be represented at the head of state level, with 24 countries sending their leaders and nine others at the head of government or ministerial level.
Additionally, six international organizations, including the United Nations, represented by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will also participate in the summit. Notable attendees will include representatives from the Eurasian Economic Commission, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Union State of Russia and Belarus, and the New Development Bank.
Gafarov noted the significant scale of the delegations, emphasizing that neither Tatarstan nor Russia had seen such extensive representation in the past. Preparations for the summit began a year and a half ago, and it is set to occur from October 22 to 24.
Founded in 2006, BRICS is an intergovernmental association that has expanded its membership over the years. With Russia taking on the rotating presidency on January 1, 2024, the bloc now includes Brazil, India, China, South Africa, and newly added members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Although media reports suggest that Saudi Arabia has yet to formalize its participation, the nation has been actively involved in BRICS meetings.
