ALBAWABA- Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting the 16th annual BRICS summit, which kicked off on Tuesday in Kazan, Russia.
The three-day event marks the largest gathering of world leaders in Russia in decades and comes at a time when the Kremlin is engaged in conflict with Western-backed Ukraine.
The summit aims to challenge Western dominance in global economic and political affairs, with the BRICS group—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—holding annual meetings to set priorities and discuss strategies for cooperation.
This year's summit sees the participation of leaders from several nations that have expressed interest in strengthening ties with BRICS, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, however, canceled his visit following a head injury, with Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira representing the country in his stead.
The summit is also notable for the attendance of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who plans to meet with Putin. His participation drew criticism from Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which condemned Guterres' decision, stating that his acceptance of the invitation "damages the UN's reputation" amid the ongoing conflict.
In 2023, BRICS extended invitations to new members, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, signaling a shift towards expanding the group's global influence.
While Saudi Arabia has yet to formally join, the other nations have embraced the opportunity. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed optimism about the summit, stating that deeper cooperation among BRICS members could help end the unipolar world and reduce dependence on U.S. hegemony and the dollar.
The summit highlights BRICS' growing role on the international stage as it seeks to reshape global power dynamics.
