BRICS summit highlights: calls for UN reform and announces expansion

The 15th summit of the BRICS nations, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, released a declaration on August 24.

The nations underscored the need for a more democratic and efficient UN, specifically advocating for an inclusive Security Council that adequately represents emerging nations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Ukraine was mentioned once, acknowledging past “national positions” in the conflict with Russia.

The member nations appreciated mediation attempts for peaceful conflict resolution, highlighting the African Leaders’ Peace Mission as a noteworthy effort.

The declaration also voiced concerns about ongoing global conflicts. A special mention was made of the Sudan, Libya, and Haiti situations.

The nations emphasized the ‘African solutions for African problems’ principle as the foundation for conflict resolution and called for global disarmament.

The New Development Bank (NBD), the BRICS bank, was acknowledged for its vital role in sustainable development, with a nod to its president, former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

The declaration from the BRICS summit emphasized concerns about unilateral coercive measures and the misuse of ICT for criminal purposes.

It also advocated for enhanced representation of developing countries in international forums and a reform of the WTO.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, flanked by leaders from Brazil, China, India, and Russia, announced the expansion of the BRICS group.

Starting January 2024, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Iran will join the bloc.

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