South African president Cyril Ramaphosa announced on July 9 that the upcoming BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit will proceed as an in-person event, despite an international arrest warrant issued for Russian president Vladimir Putin. The decision has raised eyebrows and caused speculation about the diplomatic dilemma Pretoria could face.
"The BRICS summit is going ahead, and we are finalizing our discussions on the format," president Ramaphosa stated during a press briefing on the sidelines of a conference organized by the ruling African National Congress.
As the current chair of the BRICS grouping, South Africa is responsible for organizing and hosting the summit, which aims to challenge the dominance of the United States and European powers on the global stage.
The invitation extended to Putin, despite his status as a wanted individual by the International Criminal Court (ICC), has created a complicated situation for South Africa. The ICC accuses Putin of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children, making it obligatory for South Africa, as a member state of the ICC, to arrest him if he enters the country.
There had been discussions in local media about the possibility of relocating the summit to China or hosting it virtually to avoid placing Pretoria in a position where it would be compelled to arrest the Russian leader. However, president Ramaphosa confirmed that the event would take place in Johannesburg and emphasized the desire for face-to-face interactions among the leaders.
"We are going to have a physical BRICS summit, and all of us are committed to having a summit where we will be able to eyeball each other. We have not held a physical summit for quite a long time, almost three years now. So, sorry to disappoint you, it's not going to be virtual," Ramaphosa stated firmly.
Despite the invitation, it remains unclear whether Putin will attend the gathering. The arrest warrant presents a significant diplomatic challenge for South Africa, as it has historically maintained close ties with the Kremlin since the anti-apartheid struggle years. The country has faced criticism for not openly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, although it asserts its impartiality and preference for diplomatic dialogue.
To address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, president Ramaphosa recently joined a seven-country African peace delegation to Ukraine and Russia in an attempt to broker peace between Kyiv and Moscow. This initiative highlighted South Africa's efforts to navigate the complex dynamics between the two nations.
The 15th BRICS summit is scheduled to take place from August 22 to 24 in Johannesburg, South Africa's financial hub.
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