The Algerian authorities have submitted a formal application on Monday to join the BRICS, an economic-trade organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
This was confirmed to the media by the Algerian Foreign Ministry representative in charge of international partnerships, Leila Zarrougi, according to the Al Shorouk news portal.
Algeria, which participated as a guest country in the last BRICS summit in China, argued its request in view of the need to open up commercially to other states.
Algiers has remarked that its request for membership has been well received by Moscow and Beijing, two of the most prominent governments of the bloc, although joining the group has yet to be studied by the rest of the members.
Already in August, Algerian President Abdelmayid Tebune stated that the country «largely» fulfilled the conditions for joining the organization and acknowledged Algeria’s interest in the group’s economic and political influence.
Even then, Tebune acknowledged that BRICS membership was «possible,» and predicted «good news» in the future. «Joining this group would put Algeria, a pioneer country of non-alignment, safe from the friction between the two poles,» he remarked.
