Ethiopia has applied to join the BRICS group of major emerging economies, according to The Reporter, citing the country’s Foreign Ministry. The issue could be discussed at the BRICS summit scheduled for South Africa in August.
Ethiopia hopes for a positive decision on its application to join BRICS member states, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Meles Alem said.
"We expect BRICS will give us a positive response to the request we have made," the ENA news agency quoted him as saying at a media briefing. The diplomat noted that Ethiopia had officially applied to join the alliance.
Earlier, official requests to join BRICS were filed by Algeria, Bangladesh and Egypt. BRICS unites Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Argentina, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have already expressed interest in joining the group. In 2023, the chairmanship of the alliance was passed from China to South Africa.
The BRICS Summit is scheduled for August 22-24 in Johannesburg. South African Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said at a press briefing that in the near future, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa would complete consultations with BRICS leaders on the details of holding the summit.
“We have applied for membership and are hoping for a positive response,” ministry spokesman Meles Alem reportedly told a press briefing on Thursday. “As a country that has been a founding member of global institutions like the AU [African Union] and the UN, and as we seek to guarantee our national interests, it is important to join blocs like BRICS,” Meles stressed.
About a dozen countries have so far applied to join BRICS, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Among those aiming for membership are Iran, Egypt, Bangladesh, Algeria, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia. The bloc hopes to introduce a framework for admitting new members before the August summit in South Africa.
Beijing Calls on US, Japan, Philippines to Stop Undermining China's Sovereignty, Interests
Japan and the Philippines must stop making remarks and taking actions that undermine China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and complicate the situation in the region, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said on Thursday.
On June 16, the first meeting of the security advisers of the United States, the Philippines and Japan was held in Tokyo, where the three countries agreed to enhance their trilateral defense and security capabilities to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific amid China's military activities in the South and East China Seas. The parties also pledged to cooperate in the economy to counter Beijing's alleged "economic coercion."
"China is a staunch defender and builder of international rule of law at sea. China has been committed to properly resolving disputes through negotiation and consultation. We urge relevant countries to stop harming China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and stop saying or doing anything that would further complicate the situation," Zhang told a briefing.
He stressed that the current situation in the South and East China Seas is generally stable, although some countries outside the region have tried to create chaos, engage in military provocations, create bloc confrontation and escalate tensions in the region in order to promote their personal interests.
"Countries in the East China Sea and South China Sea should refrain from bringing harm to themselves while taking risks for others," the spokesman said.
The Chinese military will closely monitor any changes in the situation and take resolute measures to safeguard China's state sovereignty, security and development interests, he added. The meeting of US, Philippine and Japanese security advisers was organized at Japan's initiative. Its main purpose was to secure the support of the Philippines, which has a long-standing territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea and could become another deterrent.
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