Pakistan's BRICS Aspirations Receives Boost As Russia Throws Its Support

Moscow: Russia on Wednesday said it would support Pakistan 's bid to join BRICS as the two countries decided to further strengthen their ties by promoting bilateral trade and cultural links.

"We are glad that Pakistan has applied (for membership). BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are friendly organisations. We will support this,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said at a press conference after talks with his Pakistani counterpart and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

"Over the past year, we have seen a significant expansion of BRICS, and countries from all over the world are showing great interest in joining,” Overchuk was quoted as saying by Russia's state-owned TASS news agency.

BRICS: It's History and Significance

BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, and South Africa joined in 2011. On January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia became its full members.

The BRICS group, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, accounts for a quarter of the global economy and around 40 percent of the world's population. It has increasingly aimed to serve as a counterbalance to the influence of Western-led forums such as the Group of 7 and the World Bank.

As a coalition of emerging economies centered on economic issues, BRICS has gained prominence in light of geopolitical shifts, particularly following the Ukraine conflict, which has heightened its relevance in recent times.

Russia's Current Relations With Pakistan

Relations between Pakistan and Russia have recently improved after estrangement during the Cold War. The visit comes ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which will be held in Islamabad.

The two countries are not just exploring options to deepen economic ties, but Russia is also keen to sell arms to Pakistan .

The two countries have already been holding regular joint military exercises since 2016, which is another sign of deepening ties between Moscow and Islamabad.