BRICS Won't Change Name After New States Join Club to Show Continuity, Lavrov Affirms

JOHANNESBURG (Sputnik) - All the participants of BRICS have agreed that the name of the group will not change after new countries join it, as this will demonstrate continuity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"Everyone says that the name should remain unchanged, it has already become a brand. None of the newcomers to BRICS suggested otherwise. It seems to me that everyone understands that it is better to leave everything as it is, this will emphasize the continuity of all our work," Lavrov told a press conference following the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

Energy sphere will be one of the key areas of cooperation in BRICS after new members will join the group, Lavrov added.

"Now that we are joined by such major players in the energy market as Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, of course, the topic of energy will shine in a new light and will be in great demand," Lavrov said following the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

The expanded BRICS will become one of the key pillars of the future fair multipolar world order based on United Nations principles, Lavrov said.

"BRICS, of course, especially the strengthened and expanded one, is one of the leading, [load]bearing pillars of what I am sure will be a fair new order based on the principles of the UN Charter," Lavrov said at a press conference on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

He also noted that this new world order would truly respect the UN principles, unlike the alleged hypocritical agenda currently pursued by the United States in relation to Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the BRICS leaders have decided to invite Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia to join the group. The membership will take effect from January 1, 2024.