BRICS summit - The African Mirror

Jul

2023

Putin discusses grain deal, awkward BRICS summit with Ramaphosa

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in which they discussed the Black Sea grain deal, due to expire on Monday, and a summit in South Africa next month, the Kremlin said. Ramaphosa finds himself in an awkward position as host of the BRICS summit because of an arrest warrant issued against Putin in March by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which accused him of the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. The warrant means member states of the ICC - of which South Africa is one - are obliged to arrest him if…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Russia’s Putin discusses Ukraine in call with South Africa’s Ramaphosa

NEWS

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, the Kremlin said. The two leaders discussed "issues related to the well-known African initiative to find a solution to the Ukrainian conflict," it added. According to the statement, Putin will receive a delegation of several African heads of state in the near future. "Preparations for the second Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg at the end of July and the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August were also discussed," the Kremlin said. Thomson Reuters Foundation

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s role as host of the BRICS summit is fraught with dangers. A guide to who is in the group, and why it exists

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SOUTH Africa will host the BRICS summit in August 2023. The event could offer the country an opportunity to exercise leadership in the BRICS’ efforts to reform the arrangements for global economic governance and in supporting sustainable and inclusive development in Africa and the Global South. However, the opportunity has morphed into an international challenge because Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court, has indicated that he will attend. South Africa could face the wrath of its BRICS partners if it fulfils its international obligation and arrests him. On the other hand, if it…

Jun

2023

By WENDELL ROELF

BRICS ministers put on show of strength as Putin arrest warrant looms large

NEWS

BRICS foreign ministers asserted their bloc's ambition to rival Western powers but their talks in South Africa were overshadowed by questions over whether Russia's president would be arrested if he attended a summit in August. South Africa's foreign minister Naledi Pandor said her country was mulling options if Vladimir Putin, the subject of a war crimes arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), came to the planned BRICS summit in Johannesburg. As a member of the ICC, South Africa would theoretically be required to arrest Putin, and Pandor was bombarded with questions about that as she arrived for…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Russia dares the West, signals Putin will visit SA

NEWS

THE Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russia would take part at the "proper level" in a planned summit in South Africa of the BRICS nations, responding to a question on whether President Vladimir Putin would attend the gathering. South Africa, a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), would theoretically be required to arrest Putin under a warrant issued by the court for his arrest for alleged war crimes. However, it has invited Putin to the August 22-24 summit of the BRICS grouping of emerging economies, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. "Russia attaches enormous importance to…

Apr

2023

By ANAIT MIRIDZHANIAN and CARIEN DU PLESSIS

Ukraine activist wants South Africa to ask Putin to attend BRICS summit virtually

NEWS

UKRAINIAN activist Oleksandra Romantsova this week suggested to South African officials that it would be better for Russian President Vladimir Putin to dial into this year's BRICS summit in South Africa rather than attend in person. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin last month, and South Africa as an ICC member would be required to detain Putin if he attends the 15th BRICS Summit that South Africa will host in August. The BRICS group comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, a bloc seen as a powerful emerging-market alternative to the West. "If Putin…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

SA’s big test: Will Putin be arrested?

NEWS

SOUTH Africa is aware of its legal obligation, a spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa said, referring to a proposed visit by Vladimir Putin after an international court issued an arrest warrant against the Russian leader. Russian President Putin was expected to visit South Africa in August to attend a BRICS summit. "We are, as the government, cognisant of our legal obligation. However, between now and the summit we will remain engaged with various relevant stakeholders," spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said. While there has been no official confirmation of Putin's visit, he has been expected to attend the 15th BRICS summit, as…