Azerbaijan’s President Invited to BRICS Summit

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has been invited to the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, this October, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. Ryabkov noted that this invitation reflects Moscow’s support for Baku’s formal request to join BRICS.

“We back Azerbaijan’s application. We consider it a strong candidate that, upon joining BRICS, will certainly contribute additional dynamism and a unique set of experiences, particularly with its capacity to engage in multiple agendas concurrently and constructively — a hallmark of BRICS,” Ryabkov was quoted by TASS.

He added that BRICS member states are currently defining criteria for partner countries, and a finalized list is expected by the time of the summit in Kazan, based on guidelines from last year’s Johannesburg summit. Ryabkov also emphasized that BRICS’ core principles of rejecting coercion and respecting international law align with Azerbaijan’s approach.

“Our relations with Azerbaijan are excellent. I believe that the progress towards closer ties with BRICS will continue, but it’s important to remember that all BRICS decisions are made through consensus,” Ryabkov concluded.

On August 20, Azerbaijan officially applied to join BRICS, following the announcement of this intention at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, earlier in July. During the summit, Azerbaijan and China signed a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, which included a provision highlighting Azerbaijan’s desire to join BRICS. China has endorsed Azerbaijan’s intention and committed to supporting its entry into the group.

BRICS, an intergovernmental organization established in 2009 to foster closer ties between Brazil, Russia, India, and China, later expanded to include South Africa. Currently, BRICS has nine members, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Over the years, BRICS has developed into a significant international platform, holding annual summits and collaborating on various multilateral issues. This year, Russia is chairing the organization.

The main event for BRICS members this year will be the summit in Kazan from October 22 to 24. Additionally, Moscow will host the 6th International Municipal Forum of BRICS countries on August 27-28.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s 2024 data, BRICS member countries account for around 45 percent of the world’s population, 28.7 percent of global GDP, and about 20 percent of international trade. The financial assets of the BRICS nations exceed 25 trillion dollars.

Mahur Gasimov, head of the Department of Analysis and Strategic Research at Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, emphasized the significant role of BRICS in international relations and its relevance to Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. He noted that BRICS’ principles of multilateralism and inclusiveness align with Azerbaijan’s objectives. Gasimov also highlighted Azerbaijan’s interest in BRICS’ three core areas of cooperation: politics and security, finance and economy, and cultural and international relations.

Gasimov further mentioned Azerbaijan’s contributions to global peace and security, particularly during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2012 to 2013 and as chair of the Non-Aligned Movement from 2019 to 2023.

“Azerbaijan has made important contributions to the implementation of communication projects such as the East-West and North-South transport corridors, as well as ensuring energy security, intercultural dialogue, and combating climate change. Our activities are highly appreciated by the international community,” he said.