Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, but membership of the organization not under consideration.
“At the moment, we do not have an agenda for BRICS integration. I received an invitation from the President of the Russian Federation to participate in the BRICS summit, which will be held in Kazan in October, and I accepted it. The head of Armenia is participating in the BRICS summit for the first time,” Pashinyan said at the Second Global Armenian Summit.
BRICS, originally formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, aims to bring together the world’s most important emerging economies, as well as act as a political and economic counterbalance to wealthier nations in the West.
The group of countries expanded earlier this year to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia was invited to join, though the Kingdom is yet to do that.
The group’s further enlargement could be discussed during the summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24. Malaysia, Thailand and Azerbaijan are among other countries looking to join.
Reports say Turkey has also asked to join BRICS.
