*Addis Ababa stands ready to work towards inclusive, prosperous global order – Prime Minister
By BASHIR ADEFAKA with agency reports
More than 20 countries have formally asked to be admitted into the club, and several others have expressed interest, Ramaphosa said ahead of the meeting, which began on Tuesday and ended on Thursday.
Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, on Thursday, expressed boundless joy after his country’s application was approved and its acceptance to join the BRICS group of world economies was announced by President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ethiopia is among the new six countries, whose applications were approved by leaders of the current BRICS member states at its 15th summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The other five countries, approved at the three-day 15th BRICS Summit of Heads of Government and State that ended on Thursday August 24, 2023 in Johannesburg, are Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The acceptance of Ethiopia’s application to join the BRICS group of world economies marks a significant milestone for the East African country, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday.
In response to Addis Ababa’s admission, Abiy Ahmed said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), “a great moment for Ethiopia as the BRICS leaders endorse our entry into this group today.”
“Ethiopia stands ready to cooperate with all for an inclusive and prosperous global order,” he wrote.
The DEFENDER reports that like Ethiopia, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have also joined the alliance, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced, adding that an agreement “on the guiding principles” of the BRICS expansion process has been reached.
The summit in Johannesburg this week prioritised BRICS expansion, with South Africa’s leader insisting that the “value of BRICS extends beyond the interests of its current members.”
More than 20 countries have formally asked to be admitted into the club, and several others have expressed interest, Ramaphosa said ahead of the meeting, which began on Tuesday and ended on Thursday.
Originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the group was last expanded in 2010 to include South Africa, giving birth to the acronym BRICS.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the bloc will represent 46 percent of the world’s population and an even larger share of its economic output with the addition of the countries.
“The relevance of the BRICS is confirmed by the growing interest shown by other countries in joining the group,” Lula wrote on X while welcoming the latest members.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said the expansion is “historic and marks a new starting point for cooperation.”
Beginning in January 2024, the six newcomers will become full members of the organization, which its current leaders have repeatedly stated is neither anti-Western nor competing with any other alliance.
