South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a “genuine reform” of the United Nations (UN) to make it “more democratic, representative and efficient”, as he delivered an address to the nation on South Africa’s foreign policy on Sunday evening.
“The United Nations Security Council must be transformed into a more inclusive, more effective body that is able to ensure peace and security,” Ramaphosa stated, adding that Pretoria was pleased that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would be attending the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on 22-24 August.
He said that the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — plays an important role in the world due to its economic power, market potential, political influence, and development cooperation.
“BRICS countries can collectively shape global dynamics, and acting together, have the potential to drive significant changes in the world economy and international relations,” Ramaphosa said.
He underlined that BRICS countries together accounted for nearly 25 percent of the global economy, a fifth of global trade, and were home to approximately 40 percent of the population.
He said that BRICS states have deployed their collective voice to advocate for an equitable, balanced, and an inclusive world order.
An Expanded BRICS Would be More Effective, Ramaphosa Says
Ramaphosa said that South Africa supported the expansion of the BRICS grouping and that the matter would be on the agenda when the leaders of five countries convene at Johannesburg’s Sandton Center this week.
Ramaphosa said that an expanded BRICS would be more effective in advancing the interests of the developing states.
“An expanded BRICS will represent a diverse group of nations with different political systems that share a common desire to have a more balanced global order,” the South African President stated.