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BRICS Invites 6 Nations, Including Saudi Arabia, to Join the Bloc

(From L to R) President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
(From L to R) President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
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BRICS Invites 6 Nations, Including Saudi Arabia, to Join the Bloc

(From L to R) President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
(From L to R) President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)

Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations have invited Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Ethiopia and Argentina to join the bloc.

Expansion could also pave the way for dozens of interested countries seeking admission to BRICS - currently Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is hosting a summit of BRICS leaders, announced on Thursday that the new candidates would be admitted as members on Jan. 1, 2024.

The debate over enlargement has topped the agenda at the three-day summit taking place in Johannesburg.

More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, say South African officials, and 22 have formally asked to be admitted.

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Gulf

Saudi FM Holds Call with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
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Saudi FM Holds Call with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call from Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Ronald Lamola, the Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.

During the call, the two officials discussed the latest developments in the region and the international efforts being made in this regard.

Gulf

GCC Secretary-General Offers Condolences to Qatar, Türkiye over Helicopter Crash Victims

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
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GCC Secretary-General Offers Condolences to Qatar, Türkiye over Helicopter Crash Victims

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to Qatar and Türkiye over the victims of the helicopter crash in Qatar’s territorial waters, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

On Sunday, seven people have been confirmed killed in a helicopter crash belonging to the Qatari Ministry of Defense due to a technical malfunction during a routine mission.

Four of those killed ⁠were Qatari armed forces ‌personnel, ‌one was from the Qatar-Türkiye ‌joint forces and ‌two were technicians, according to the Turkish and Qatari defense ministries.

Albudaiwi also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow His mercy upon them and grant their families patience and solace.

Gulf

Crown Prince, French President Discuss Regional Escalation; France Reiterates Solidarity with Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
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Crown Prince, French President Discuss Regional Escalation; France Reiterates Solidarity with Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they reviewed the latest regional developments and their implications.

President Macron affirmed France's solidarity with and support for the Kingdom, condemning the repeated Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported Monday.

He also reiterated France's backing of the measures taken by the Kingdom to preserve its sovereignty, maintain its security, and protect its territory and airspace.