Iran Press/Asia: According to TASS news agency, Ayhan Haji Zadeh, spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Baku has formally applied for BRICS membership.
Azerbaijani state media also cited this senior foreign ministry official, emphasizing Azerbaijan's intention to join the group.The decision to pursue BRICS membership was first announced in a strategic joint statement between Azerbaijan and China during the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
The announcement marked a significant move in Azerbaijan's growing diplomatic and economic ties with emerging global powers. Additionally, Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, reiterated the country's commitment to becoming a full member of BRICS during the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Assembly held in St. Petersburg. Her comments further underscore Azerbaijan's ambition to align itself with the economic bloc.
In an interview with TASS, Polad Bulbuloglu, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia, also confirmed the country’s interest in joining BRICS. His remarks coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Baku. Responding to questions regarding the formal application, Bulbuloglu acknowledged the long queue of countries eager to join the group, reaffirming Azerbaijan's desire to be part of this expanding alliance.
The ambassador also mentioned that discussions with Russian partners regarding the matter are ongoing, signaling active diplomatic efforts to facilitate the process.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, recently highlighted the increasing interest in BRICS during a press conference following the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.
He noted that the number of countries seeking to collaborate with the group has reached 30, and further discussions on new memberships are set to take place at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.BRICS, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, was established in 2009 to foster cooperation among emerging economies. South Africa joined the group a year later, transforming BRIC into BRICS.
206
Read More:
IMBRICS Forum 2024 Kicks Off with Official Iran Presence
