Russia, the current BRICS chair, has snubbed Pakistan's case for entry into the BRICS, mentioning that there is no consensus on the country’s application.
Alexei Overchuk, one of the Russian Deputy PMs, visiting Islamabad ahead of the BRICS Summit in October indicated on Wednesday that there is no consensus for Pakistan's application for BRICS.
“We are happy that Pakistan has applied. BRICS and SCO are brotherly organisations to support each other but at the same time there needs to be a consensus, to make those decisions. We have seen significant enlargement of BRICS,” Overchuk told reporters in Islamabad.
Sources told ET that Pakistan (though backed by China) does not fit into the emerging markets category, primary criteria for BRICS membership or partner status. Pakistan with a fledgling economy does not fit into a group of top and emerging economies, sources pointed out.
The October 22-24 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, will decide on the BRICS partner mechanism.
It may be recalled that Pakistan could enter the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) based on China’s push. Russia had pushed India’s entry into SCO and the move was backed by two Central Asian states – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. However, criteria for entering BRICS and SCO are different.
Besides, unlike SCO, India is the founding member of BRICS and its view is important in any further expansion of the group.
At the BRICS Summit held in South Africa last year – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia and Argentina joined BRICS taking total membership of the grouping to 11. Later following the election of the new President Argentina withdrew from BRICS and total members in the group currently stands at 10.
Alexei Overchuk, one of the Russian Deputy PMs, visiting Islamabad ahead of the BRICS Summit in October indicated on Wednesday that there is no consensus for Pakistan's application for BRICS.
“We are happy that Pakistan has applied. BRICS and SCO are brotherly organisations to support each other but at the same time there needs to be a consensus, to make those decisions. We have seen significant enlargement of BRICS,” Overchuk told reporters in Islamabad.
Sources told ET that Pakistan (though backed by China) does not fit into the emerging markets category, primary criteria for BRICS membership or partner status. Pakistan with a fledgling economy does not fit into a group of top and emerging economies, sources pointed out.
The October 22-24 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, will decide on the BRICS partner mechanism.
It may be recalled that Pakistan could enter the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) based on China’s push. Russia had pushed India’s entry into SCO and the move was backed by two Central Asian states – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. However, criteria for entering BRICS and SCO are different.
Besides, unlike SCO, India is the founding member of BRICS and its view is important in any further expansion of the group.
At the BRICS Summit held in South Africa last year – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia and Argentina joined BRICS taking total membership of the grouping to 11. Later following the election of the new President Argentina withdrew from BRICS and total members in the group currently stands at 10.
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