According to the diplomat, the list of candidates includes Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The representative of South Africa added that his country was in favor of expanding the international organization, but asked for clarification on the membership criteria.
“We don’t know yet what criteria will be used, but in this process we will have to get the consent of all BRICS participants,” Mzuvukile Maketuka said.
“This is how the BRICS work: by consensus, we have no veto power,” he added.
The BRICS presidency is transferred annually to one of the participating countries. Since the beginning of December, this place has been occupied by the Republic of South Africa, for the moment the last country to join the organization. Now the BRICS include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.