Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov came up with a footballing analogy after BRICS expanded to eleven members following the announcement that Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina will join the forum on January 1, 2024.
"With the inclusion of new member countries, we now comprise 11 nations within the organization - a cohesive football team," Lavrov told reporters in Johannesburg.
"BRICS is committed to supporting these new members in facilitating their integration process until the upcoming summit in Kazan," he added.
Interestingly, the six nations will become full members of BRICS which is currently a formation of five countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, during Moscow's presidency next year.
Russia will take over the chair of BRICS from South Africa on January 1, 2024, and as mentioned by President Vladimir Putin, the summit will take place in the city of Kazan.
Originally, Brazil was to host the event. However, the South American sovereign state opted to hand over the presidency of the BRICS to Russia as Brasilia will be holding the G20 summit in 2024.
Brazil will now take over the BRICS presidency in 2025.