Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that some NATO member countries might be considering involvement with the BRICS alliance, which he described as a "prototype of free, non-aligned relations between nations."
In a speech to a conference of Russian experts on Thursday, Putin shared his view that interest among NATO members in joining BRICS—a coalition of emerging economies led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—could increase in the coming years.
"There are those in NATO who are interested in BRICS, and perhaps the number of such countries will grow," Putin stated, as reported by Russian News Agency TASS.
The Russian leader's remarks follow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's recent expression of interest in BRICS membership for Turkey, making him one of the few NATO leaders to publicly consider the possibility. Ankara views BRICS as a chance for increased economic cooperation with member states rather than a replacement for its Western ties and NATO membership.
"We are determined to further our dialogue with the BRICS family, with whom we have developed close relations based on mutual respect and win-win," Erdoğan told delegates at the BRICS forum in Kazan, Russia, during the bloc's most recent meeting in October.
In his Thursday remarks, Putin also characterized NATO as a "blatant anachronism" that the United States uses to dominate its sphere of influence. He argued that NATO is subject to "the diktat of the older brother," referring to the U.S.
Putin also addressed the situation in Ukraine, blaming "the West" for the war. "They pushed the situation toward a coup d'état in Ukraine and forced Russia to launch a special operation. In that sense, it achieved what it wanted," Putin said, adding that he considers the stereotype of a "civilized West" versus the "barbarism" of other peoples a form of racist ideology.
BRICS recently expanded to include new members such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, who joined Iran and Ethiopia as part of the alliance's reach. Other nations, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, have applied to join the bloc at a moment when Russia is trying to reestablish itself as an important player worldwide, at the lowest point of its relationship with the United States.
In his remarks on Thursday, Putin also referenced Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election.
"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as President of the United States," Putin said, adding that Trump's statements "about the desire to restore relations with Russia and to help resolve the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, deserve at least some attention."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted on Thursday that the Kremlin is not ruling out a conversation between Putin and Trump before the inauguration, as Trump "indicated he would call Putin before taking office.
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