As a founding member of the BRICS alliance, Russia has stated that countries seeking to join the alliance must avoid participating in any economic sanctions imposed by the West on any member of the alliance. The condition, shared by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, aims to counter the restrictions imposed by the US, NATO, and EU in response to the war in Ukraine.
Traditionally, BRICS focuses on geoeconomics, advocating for reform of the global economic order and promoting trade among its members. However, the geopolitical tensions resulting from the conflict in Ukraine and the resulting Western sanctions against Russia have disrupted international trade, supply chains, and banking transactions, affecting the alliance members.
Implementing this measure could strain relations within the BRICS alliance, as there is a chance that India, South Africa, and Brazil may not oppose Western restrictions. On the other hand, countries like India and China maintain significant trade relations with Russia, especially in oil and gas, often using different methods to circumvent the sanctions.
This condition, however, may diminish the willingness of some potential new members to join the union. The issue is expected to be key at the BRICS+ meeting in St. Petersburg, scheduled for October.