Algeria in line to join BRICS

By Romegas

In a further sign of the seismic geo-political and economic shifts that the world is currently going through, Algeria has reportedly filed an official application to join the BRICS group of major emerging economies. According to the News Website Al-Shouruk, the announcement came from Leila Zerrouki, the Foreign Ministry’s special envoy for international partnerships, speaking on state radio. 

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had recently said the country was interested in joining Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa in the BRICS group, explaining that the country largely meets the criteria for membership.

Later, Russian Ambassador to Algeria Valeryan Shuvaev indicated that Moscow had no objections to Algeria joining.

At this year’s BRICS summit, held online in June, the format was expanded to include 13 additional nations, including Algeria. President Tebboune was the first guest to speak, calling for “a new economic order where parity and equity between countries will reign.”

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in September that a number of countries have expressed an interest in joining BRICS in one form or another. Ryabkov stated that the leaders of the BRICS nations are currently developing a procedure for accepting new members.

The BRICS group, which already accounts for more than 40% of the world’s population, is already considering adding several other nations including Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Afghanistan.