By John Ikani
Leaders from 24 countries are set to convene in Kazan, Russia, later this month for the 2024 BRICS summit, as tensions between Russia and Ukraine persist.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yury Ushakov, confirmed that top officials from 24 nations will attend, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also be present.
Among the high-profile attendees is Chinese President Xi Jinping. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to attend, despite Iran’s current tensions with Israel.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has expressed interest in joining the BRICS economic group, is also expected to participate.
Ushakov mentioned that, while 38 nations had been invited, several will send senior officials in place of their leaders. He also confirmed that all heads of the CIS, a bloc of former Soviet nations, will be in attendance.
“The summit in Kazan may well turn out to be the largest international event Russia has ever hosted,” Ushakov said.
BRICS, originally established in 2009, includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The group has since expanded, with countries from the Middle East, including Iran, now involved.
According to Ushakov, informal talks will begin on October 22, with the formal summit to follow on October 23-24. President Putin is expected to hold around 20 one-on-one meetings starting October 21 and wrapping up by October 24.
Russia remains under international scrutiny for its ongoing war with Ukraine, which has resulted in significant loss of life and widespread damage.
