Cuba Applies to Join the BRICS

“Cuba has officially requested to join the BRICS as a Partner Country, through a letter to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, who holds the Presidency of the Group, which is consolidating itself as a key player in global geopolitics and hope for the countries of the South,” Cuba’s Director General, Bilateral Affairs of the Foreign Ministry said on his X account.

Carlos M. Pereira made the announcement yesterday on the social network X (formerly Twitter), saying that the request was in the form of “a letter to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, who holds the Presidency of the Group.”

Viktor Koronelli, the Russian Ambassador to Cuba, confirmed the news in an interview with TASS that Cuba has officially applied for partnership status at the BRICS. He also confirmed that Cuba’s president Miguel Diaz-Canel has the invitation to take part in BRICS Plus/Outreach, an extended meeting of the group at the upcoming summit in Kazan.

The BRICS, founded in 2010, is the acronym of the first member countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It is an alternative for the world’s developing countries, challenging the political and economic power of the wealthier nations of the G7. It represents the hope of the Global South for the construction of a more just, equitable and sustainable multilateral world order.

Earlier this year, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran joined the group. Saudi Arabia was also invited, although it has not yet confirmed acceptance of the invitation but it participates in activities.

On January 1, 2024, Russia assumed the BRICS presidency and will remain in this position until the end of the year.

The BRICS Summit will take place between October 22 to 24 in Kazan, Russia.