Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to participate in an extraordinary BRICS online summit focused on the escalating Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The meeting, chaired by South Africa this year, will discuss the situation in the Palestinian sector of Gaza.
The summit will include representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, as well as countries set to become full members from January 1 next year: Argentina, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also attend the meeting. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi initiated the extraordinary summit, aiming to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
After opening remarks by South African leader Cyril Ramaposa, participants are expected to make statements, and a joint statement is anticipated.
Deterioration in the Middle East
The Middle East situation has sharply escalated since Palestinian Hamas militants infiltrated into Israel on October 7, responding to perceived Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, launching retaliatory strikes on Gaza and parts of Lebanon and Syria, with clashes in the West Bank.
According to the Gaza government's press service, more than 13,000 people, including 5,500 children and 3,500 women, have died in Gaza since October 7.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently urged an end to the bloodshed, emphasizing the release of hostages and the need for humanitarian aid in conversations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Discussion on unification
In August, a BRICS summit took place in Johannesburg, with Russian President Vladimir Putin participating via video link.
The summit led to the adoption of the Johannesburg Declaration, announcing that six additional countries, including Argentina, will join the association from January 1, 2024.
Argentina, represented by incumbent President Alberto Fernandez, has been invited to the upcoming online meeting. However, newly elected President Javier Mealey, from the Libertarian Party, part of the "Freedom to Come" alliance, will take office on December 10, 2023.
Mealey has expressed reluctance to develop interstate relations with Brazil, China, and Russia but won't impede private businesses from engaging with them. The Freedom to Come alliance currently sees no value in Argentina's participation in BRICS.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS