Azerbaijan Seeks BRICS Membership Following Putin's Visit
The South Caucasus nation aims to join the expanding bloc of developing economies amid strengthened ties with Russia.
Overview
- Azerbaijan formally applied to join BRICS, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit.
- BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has recently expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE.
- Saudi Arabia is also considering joining the bloc, which represents over a quarter of the world's GDP.
- Strengthened trade relations were a key topic during the meeting between Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
- Azerbaijan's alignment with Russia is crucial due to ongoing tensions with neighboring Armenia.