Russian ambassador to US: Developing relations with BRICS countries a top foreign policy priority for Moscow

RT
Mon, 21 May 2018 08:02 UTC

© Embassy of Russia in the USA / Facebook

Developing close relations with the BRICS states remains one of Moscow's top foreign policy priorities, Russia's ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, said ahead of Narendra Modi's meeting with Vladimir Putin in Sochi.

"Deeper strategic partnership in BRICS is one of the priorities of Russia's foreign policy. Over recent years, the alliance has matured, turning into a full-scale mechanism of cooperation," Antonov said last week, answering media questions following the VI Annual Conference 'Doing Business with the BRICS' in Washington DC.

Noting the increasing global role of BRICS countries, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Antonov highlighted the main benefits of the association of five major emerging world economies, noting that the New Development Bank serves to reform the "outdated" global financial system.

"We coordinate our steps on pressing issues of international agenda, on combating terrorism and drugs, international information security," Antonov said, as cited in the embassy's weekly newsletter. "The establishment of the New Development Bank by BRICS countries and a $200-billion Reserve Currency Pool has become momentous for reforming the outdated global financial system, dominated by the Western countries."

Looking into the future prospects of the bloc's multilateral relations, Antonov said that BRICS plans to further expand the areas of cooperation, namely in peacekeeping, joint production of vaccines, and various other areas such as the tourism industry. Recalling that the association's main motto is openness, the ambassador told reporters on Thursday that BRICS plans to potentially incorporate more countries in its projects through the "BRICS-plus" concept that was adopted during last year's summit in Xiamen.

"It is aimed at establishing 'outer circles' of the friends to 'the Five,' creation of a dialogue venue for regional integration unions of states with emerging and developing economies from different parts of the world," Antonov said.

On Monday, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi for an "agenda-less"meeting with President Vladimir Putin, where the leaders of two BRICS nations are set to "build up their relationship"and "discuss issues important to their own countries."

Comment:

PM Narendra Modi leaves for Sochi for informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin

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Mr Modi's one-day trip to Russian summer beach resort of Sochi coincides amid US sanctions against Moscow.

The US move has raised concerns that the Washington's decision could possibly affect Russian military supplies to India, particularly an estimated Rs 40,000-crore deal to buy the sophisticated, long-range S-400 air defence system.

However, it is in this context, a senior official had said on Thursday, "We are not going to allow our defence requirements to be dictated by any other country.

Whatever is in India's interest in terms of procuring equipment for national security and defence is what will determine the manner in which we act with various countries".

The US sanctions against Russia is for its meddling in Ukraine, Syria and the 2016 presidential elections.

India's military and strategic ties with Russia date back to the Cold War era.
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Mr Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a similar informal summit in China recently.

Indian officials say Russia is an "old friend and trusted partner" and thus it is not an issue of building a relationship or deepening trust.

"It is a question of using that trust and friendship that we have to discuss a number of issues those have emerged as a result of important changes in the international and regional situations," a senior official has said.