South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that the upcoming BRICS summit would be held in-person, disregarding an arrest warrant issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin. As the current chair of the BRICS, South Africa remains committed to fostering closer cooperation and challenging the dominant US and European-led global governance structures.
Speaking to South African journalists during a conference by the ruling ANC, President Ramaphosa emphasized that the BRICS summit would take place in a physical format. The exact participation of President Putin, who is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over allegations of unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children, was not confirmed.
“We are going to have a physical BRICS summit, all of us are committed to having a summit where we will be able to eyeball each other,” President Ramaphosa stated in response to a question, as his briefing was broadcast live on local television networks. He further stressed the significance of a physical summit, as the last such gathering had taken place nearly three years ago, adding, “It’s not going to be virtual.”
However, the situation poses a diplomatic dilemma for South Africa, as a member of the ICC, since it would be expected to execute the arrest warrant against President Putin should he set foot in the country. Speculation had arisen in the local media regarding a potential relocation of the talks to China, a non-signatory to the Rome Statute, to avoid this predicament.
President Ramaphosa defended South Africa’s neutral position and highlighted the country’s commitment to promoting dialogue and negotiation in conflict situations. Referring to the approach of the late Nelson Mandela, he stated, “With the geopolitical situation as fluid as it is now, we believe that it’s important that a country like South Africa should be able to play its long-stated role.”
Last month, President Ramaphosa led a historic peace delegation comprising representatives from seven African countries in an attempt to mediate the Ukraine conflict between Kyiv and Moscow. The mission aimed to address the repercussions faced by Africa, particularly the rising grain prices resulting from the conflict. The delegation presented a 10-point proposal, including de-escalation, recognition of countries’ sovereignty, unimpeded grain exports through the Black Sea, and repatriation of prisoners of war and children to their home countries.
The 15th BRICS summit is scheduled to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, the financial hub of South Africa, from August 22 to 24. The South African foreign ministry has confirmed that several countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS, highlighting the group’s growing influence and appeal.
As the BRICS summit approaches, South Africa remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening cooperation and advancing its long-standing role in international relations. The physical gathering of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will provide an opportunity for meaningful discussions and collaboration on pressing global issues.
