Morocco shows no interest in joining new BRICS

A source at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Morocco has not made a formal request to join the BRICS group. 

Despite seeming to have no interest in joining the group, Morocco has bilateral relations with four BRICS members (A group uniting the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) except South Africa, according to Saudi news website Asharq Al-Awsat, August 20.

A source claimed that South Africa has always been hostile towards Morocco as well as taking negative and dogmatic positions when the question of the Moroccan Sahara arises.

BRICS members will meet between August 22-24 in the South African city of Johannesburg as the main discussion point will be the introduction of a new gold-backed currency. 

Vladimir Putin will not be present at the meeting as the Russian President is under scrutiny, facing an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.  

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will instead represent Moscow at the summit in South Africa, as the bloc will also discuss the expansion of BRICS. 

Although Morocco has shown a lack of appetite in joining the bloc, North African countries, Algeria and Tunisia have applied to become members. 

In November of last year, Algeria officially applied to join the group of five and it is believed that should the country join the bloc, it would allow them to secure recognition for the Polisario Front, trumping neighbouring Morocco beyond the Western Sahara to become a leader in the north African region. 

Tunisia showed intent on joining in April 2023, in a move that would strongly benefit the country economically according to President Kais Saied. This would be vital as Tunisia has experienced social and economical struggles over recent years. 

Around forty countries have had an interest in joining BRICS, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. 

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT