Kazan: More than 30 countries have expressed their interest in joining the BRICS alliance, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting at the 16th BRICS Summit. Addressing world leaders at the Plenary Session held in Kazan, Putin highlighted the growing interest from nations in the Global South and East to strengthen ties with the BRICS group.

Putin emphasized the importance of balancing any potential expansion while ensuring the group remains effective. He stated, “It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest of these countries in strengthening contacts with BRICS. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance and prevent a decrease in the effectiveness of the group.”

During the session at the Kazan Expo Center, Putin reiterated that the group would also address various "acute regional conflicts" while continuing discussions about the inclusion of new members.

Later, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit. This meeting, which marks the first formal interaction between the two leaders in five years, follows an agreement between India and China to resume regular patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Ahead of the summit, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, shared a joint photo of the BRICS leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, captioned, “Stronger and united together for an inclusive and multipolar world.”

Additionally, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the focus of the summit on establishing guidelines for a partner country model within BRICS. Discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin are expected to revolve around this framework, although specifics are still under development.

BRICS, initially a formal group consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, was established following a meeting of these nations' leaders in 2006. South Africa joined in 2010, and five more members. namely - Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE - were added in 2024.

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