Summary Putin will not attend BRICS summit at end of AugustTwenty two nations requested to join, as many interestedSouth Africa defends neutral stance on Russia-UkraineJOHANNESBURG, July 20 (Reuters) - More than 40 countries have expressed interested in joining the BRICS group of nations, South Africa's top diplomat in charge of relations with the bloc said on Thursday. Anil Sooklal and officials from the department of foreign affairs were addressing journalists in the main commercial city of Johannesburg, a day after South Africa confirmed Russia's Vladamir Putin would not attend the BRICS summit due to take place on Aug. 22-24. Aside from the 22 countries that had formally asked to join, Sooklal said there was "an equal number of countries that have informally expressed interest in becoming BRICS members ... (including) all the major global south countries". South Africa had faced a dilemma in hosting the summit. South Africa maintains it has a neutral stance on the Ukraine war, which it wants to end through negotiation.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 20, 2023 15:29 UTC