Russia has expressed its support for Pakistan’s potential inclusion in BRICS, a prominent intergovernmental organization that includes Brazil, China, Russia, India, and South Africa.
“We would support it,” said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk on Thursday, in response to a query about Pakistan’s request to join the group of leading emerging economies.
Overchuk made the statement during a joint press conference in Islamabad with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, as part of his two-day visit to Pakistan. Both officials discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation and boost bilateral trade, which reached $1 billion last year.
Overchuk also noted that Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin would attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government meeting in Islamabad next month, emphasizing the meeting’s importance.
Additionally, Overchuk met with Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, during his visit.
In recent years, Pakistan has worked to strengthen its commercial ties with Russia.
Expanding BRICS
BRICS, originally named BRIC, was established in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China as its founding members. South Africa joined in 2010, expanding the group’s scope.
Last year, the bloc invited six new countries—Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates—to join. This move is part of BRICS’ effort to reshape what it sees as an outdated global order.
Several other nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Gabon, Bolivia, and Kazakhstan, have also expressed interest in joining, seeing BRICS as an alternative to Western-dominated global institutions.
