Putin hosts BRICS summit in Russia but Brazilian and Cuban leaders cancel attendance

The leaders of Brazil and Cuba both canceled their attendance at this week's BRICS summit, being hosted in Russia by President Vladimir Putin.

"Regrettably, as it became known today, President of Brazil Lula da Silva and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel will not be able to come due to unforeseen circumstances," Kremlin presidential aide Yury Ushakov said in comments reported by Russian state media on Oct. 21.

Lula, 78, is reported to have suffered a minor brain hemorrhage after falling at his home at the weekend, and will instead appear by videoconference.

Diaz-Canel is suffering "serious energy problems," Russian state media reported.

BRICS, composed of Russia, China, India, Brazil, and other nations, is a group of emerging economies often portrayed as a counterweight to the Western-led world.

Four new members – Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates – joined the international organization at the start of 2024. This marked the group's first expansion since December 2010, when South Africa became a member.

Cuba has requested to join the BRICS group as a "partner country" in an official letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, a Cuban Foreign Ministry official said on Oct. 8.

With Russia increasingly isolated on the international stage, and forced to turn to countries like North Korea for support, Moscow is hoping the summit can send a message to Western nations that it can still yield some clout.

The Kremlin described the three-day meeting which began on Oct. 22 as one of the "largest-scale foreign policy events ever" in Russia.

As the Baltics raise the alarm about Russia, Washington still not listening

For Zygimantas Pavilionis, a member of the Lithuanian parliament, history is repeating itself: The Kremlin’s military sights are set on Europe beyond Ukraine and the U.S. is not listening to warnings from the Baltics. “In Europe, they listen to the Baltics, but in America, they are so arrogant

The Kyiv IndependentOwen Racer

Source link

Related posts:

UN chief’s potential visit to BRICS summit in Russia challenges narrative of Russia’s diplomatic isolation Was the UN chief brokering another Ukraine deal with Putin? As the Baltics raise the alarm about Russia, Washington still not listening Cuba asks to join BRICS as partner country in letter to Putin Kazakhstan won't seek BRICS membership 'in the foreseeable future' Putin, Xi discuss war in Ukraine at BRICS summit in Russia Lavrov to lead Russian delegation to G20 summit instead of Putin in light of his possible arrest in Brazil Brazil must arrest Putin if he attends G20, Ukraine's Prosecutor General says