Vladimir Putin attended the BRICS summit remotely. Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/via REUTERS
Vladimir Putin has said he wants to deepen ties with Russia. Africa, hours after the head of the Wagner mercenaries, who was in charge of Russian operations on the continent, died in a mysterious plane crash.
The Russian president said at the BRICS summit in South Africa that his country is a reliable partner . a food and fuel delivery partner.
In a video message at the three-day Johannesburg summit, he said Russia wants to develop «multi-faceted ties» with a continent that has been hit hard by rising prices as a result of its invasion of Ukraine.
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At the West, he also attacked «radical neoliberalism, which is imposed by some countries and aimed at the destruction of traditional values that are close and dear to all of us.»
The Russian leader spoke just over 12 hours after the death of his former ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in the crash of his private jet flying from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
British intelligence sources said the crash was likely a state assassination in retaliation for Prigozhin's leadership of a mutiny against Moscow in June.
A group of Wagner mercenaries, led by Prigozhin, led a group of Wagner mercenaries. Russia's campaign to oust Western influence in Africa by offering military support to countries fighting jihadi terrorists.
In recent years, Russia's military involvement in Africa has largely been outsourced to Wagner and his mercenaries, analysts say. supported the governments of Mali and the Central African Republic.
Prigozhin's death is expected to lead the Kremlin back to signing agreements. direct deals with African leaders.
Putin told the summit that Russia has more than 30 energy projects in African countries, adding that Russian fuel supplies will help African governments keep prices down.
«Over the past two years, exports of Russian crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas to Africa have increased 2.6 times,» he said.
The Russian leader was the only BRICS bloc leader not to attend the summit in person after he canceled his speech due to fears he could be arrested for war crimes.
South Africa would have been forced to arrest him, because he is under an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Trial for crimes committed during the invasion of Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin says Russian fuel supplies will help African governments keep prices down. Photo: MIKHAIL KLIMENTIEV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The Emerging Markets Bloc meanwhile announced that Saudi Arabia and five other countries will join China and Russia in the group as they try to expand their global influence and shake up the global an order dominated by the West.
< p>The Gulf Kingdom will join the group next year along with Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia.
The first expansion in more than a decade is the impetus to realize Beijing's vision of a greatly expanded group. this can counteract Western dominance in international institutions and affairs.
“This membership expansion is historic,” said Xi Jinping, President of China.
“Expansion is also a new starting point for BRICS cooperation. This will give new impetus to the BRICS cooperation mechanism and further strengthen the forces that promote world peace and development.”
BRICS leaders have long complained that the international financial system, in particular, is dominated by Western states and institutions, not serving the interests of developing countries.
Pace of bloc expansion
Ahead of the group's three-day summit, debate over the scope and pace of expansion dominated South Africa, with 22 countries officially applying for membership.
However, Western officials also question the group's viability and international influence, as it includes a wide range of diverse and often rival countries. Some countries, including China, are facing severe economic difficulties.
Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia's prime minister, hailed what he called a «great moment» for his country.
«Ethiopia «ready to work with all for an inclusive and prosperous global order,» he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In Iran, senior presidential adviser Mohammad Jamshidi called the move «a historic development and strategic success» in Tehran's foreign policy.
The Islamic Republic is trying to reduce its international isolation and offset the devastating effect. sanctions.
The bloc was formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa was added in 2010.
After this announcement, China insisted that the expanded group is not anti-Western.
“We are not participating in a camp confrontation,” said Lee Kexin. director general of the international economic relations department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, said the expansion means it now represents 46 percent of the world's population and an even larger share of its economic output.< /p>
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, said: «BRICS has opened a new chapter in its efforts to build a just world, a world that is just, a world that is also inclusive and prosperous.»
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