Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed through a spokeswoman on Friday that he will attend a summit of the BRICS group of major emerging economies in the Russian city of Kazan next month. The summit, scheduled for October 22-24, is set to be a significant event, particularly in light of recent membership bids from Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan first announced on Wednesday Armenia’s participation in the summit.
Pashinyan’s decision to attend the summit comes despite heightened tensions with Moscow, illustrated by Armenia’s de facto suspension of its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Over the past year, Pashinyan has boycotted CSTO summits and has made efforts to reorient Armenia’s foreign policy towards the West. This move to participate in the BRICS summit could signal a strategic balancing act amid these strained relations.
The BRICS group—an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—represents almost half of the world’s population. Established in 2009, it has expanded to include other significant emerging economies such as the United Arab Emirates and Iran. The organization’s growing influence is attracting interest from other nations.
Recently, Azerbaijan applied for membership in BRICS, indicating its desire to align more closely with the group of emerging powers. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has not yet confirmed his participation in the Kazan summit. Similarly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to attend the summit, underscoring Turkey’s aspirations to join the BRICS bloc.
Azerbaijan and Turkey’s recent bids for BRICS membership come amid their ongoing efforts to diversify their foreign policy strategies and strengthen their roles on the global stage. Their participation in BRICS could alter the geopolitical landscape of the organization and shift the balance of influence within it. As these two nations seek to join BRICS, the upcoming summit in Kazan could be a pivotal moment for both Armenia and its regional rivals.
