October 31, 2024: MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia’s BRICS chairmanship presents a unique opportunity to reshape the global political and economic landscape, with Moscow assumingleadership in the Global South and fostering strategic partnerships among Eurasian nations, Pakistani Senator Sehar Kamran told Sputnik.
“We view Russia’s BRICS presidency as a catalyst for change in the global political and economic order and a strong voice for those countries that have been subjected to coercion by powerful states for geopolitical gains. We expect Russia to lead the Global South and take the initiative in forming a strong partnership between Eurasian countries, building strong ties in trade and commerce, and consistently pushing for the de-dollarization of the global economy,” Kamran said, adding that Pakistan needs Russia’s support in its bid to become a BRICS member state.
Earlier in the month, Coordinator to Pakistani Prime Minister on Implementation and Monitoring Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan told Sputnik that the country hopes to join the organization in the near future.
During her recent visit to Pakistan, Speaker of the upper house of the Russian Parliament Valentina Matvienko stressed that Russia welcomed Islamabad’s desire to deepen cooperation with BRICS. In Islamabad, Matvienko met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and addressed the senate during a special session.
Pakistan submitted an official request to join BRICS in November 2023, and Islamabad emphasized that they hoped for Moscow’s assistance on this issue.
BRICS is an intergovernmental association created in 2006. Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the bloc on January 1, 2024. The year began with the accession of new members to the association. In addition to Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, according to the website of the Russian 2024 BRICS Chairmanship. Media reports said that Saudi Arabia had not formalized its participation yet but was taking part in BRICS meetings.
The Pakistani-Russian cooperation within the framework of the UN Security Council may include work on such issues as stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan, combating terrorism, and advocating against illegal occupations, including in the Gaza Strip, Sehar Kamran said.