South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to enhance relations with Russia during the upcoming BRICS Summit in Kazan, scheduled for October 22-24, 2024. As reported by presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa intends to engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
During a recent media briefing, Magwenya emphasized that the South African leader plans to cover a variety of topics of mutual interest, particularly the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He noted that the recent expansion of the BRICS+ bloc is of particular significance for South Africa, underscoring the importance of consolidating the alliance.
The BRICS group, established in 2006, comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with the recent addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. With Russia assuming the rotating presidency of BRICS on January 1, 2024, the summit is expected to draw significant attention.
A Russian official confirmed that more than 30 countries have already committed to attending the Kazan summit. This includes nations such as Bahrain, the UAE, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, along with representatives from six international organizations, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
