Russia Urges South Africa to Exclude French President from BRICS Summit
The upcoming BRICS summit, set to be hosted by South Africa in August, has caused concern in the Kremlin due to French President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to attend as a guest. The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Paris of pursuing a “hostile” policy towards Moscow and is urging South African authorities not to allow Macron to participate in the meeting.
Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Ryabkov, expressed his discontent with Macron’s potential presence at the summit. He criticized the French leadership for advocating for the international isolation of Russia and aligning with NATO’s stance on inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow. Ryabkov referred to Macron as an “inappropriate” guest and highlighted Paris’ support for anti-Russian sanctions as a reason for France’s inability to join the organization. Russia has already engaged in discussions with South Africa on this matter and hopes that the African country will consider their opinion.
Ryabkov acknowledged that the host country has the prerogative to determine the guest list for the summit. “The host decides who to accept, in what format,” he stated. The French Foreign Ministry recently announced Macron’s desire to receive an invitation to the BRICS summit, potentially making him the first Western leader to attend a meeting of the association’s participants.
It is worth noting that Macron has been vocal about his support for Ukraine. He described the counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as an opportunity for lasting peace and called on the West to strengthen military support for the country. Macron also emphasized the need to provide Ukraine with “tangible and reliable” security guarantees. Additionally, he confirmed the deployment of the latest French-Italian SAMP/T air defense system in Ukraine earlier this week.
The Kremlin’s request to exclude Macron from the BRICS summit reflects the strained relations between Russia and France. As the summit approaches, South Africa will ultimately decide whether to accommodate Russia’s request or extend an invitation to the French president.
Author: Artem Malinovsky
Date: 2023-06-22 17:14:58
Why is Russia urging South Africa to exclude French President Emmanuel Macron from the BRICS summit?
Russia Urges South Africa: Should French President be Excluded from BRICS Summit?
The upcoming BRICS summit, set to be hosted by South Africa in August, is causing quite a stir in the Kremlin. The reason? French President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to attend as a guest. The Russian Foreign Ministry is not happy about it at all, accusing Paris of pursuing a “hostile” policy towards Moscow. As a result, they are urging South African authorities to rethink their invitation to Macron and exclude him from the meeting.
Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed his discontent with Macron’s potential presence at the summit. He criticized the French leadership for advocating for the international isolation of Russia and aligning with NATO’s stance on dealing a strategic blow to Moscow. In Ryabkov’s eyes, Macron is simply an “inappropriate” guest and Russia believes that France’s support for anti-Russian sanctions disqualifies them from participating in the organization. Russia has already been in discussions with South Africa on this matter, and they hope that the African country will seriously consider their opinion.
Ryabkov acknowledged that ultimately, the host country has the power to determine the guest list for the summit. “The host decides who to accept, in what format,” he stated. However, it is worth noting that if Macron does receive an invitation to the BRICS summit, he would be the first Western leader to attend a meeting of the association’s participants. This fact has not gone unnoticed by the French Foreign Ministry, who recently announced Macron’s desire to attend.
It’s important to highlight Macron’s vocal support for Ukraine. He has been a strong advocate for the country, describing the counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as an opportunity for lasting peace. Macron has also called on the West to bolster military support for Ukraine and provide them with “tangible and reliable” security guarantees. To further solidify his support, he recently confirmed the deployment of the latest French-Italian SAMP/T air defense system in Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s request to exclude Macron from the BRICS summit underscores the strained relations between Russia and France. As the summit edges closer, all eyes will be on South Africa to see whether they will accommodate Russia’s request or extend an invitation to the French president.
Article by: Artem Malinovsky
Date: 2023-06-22 17:14:58
It’s concerning to see Russia trying to dictate the guest list for the BRICS Summit. South Africa should not bow to external pressures and instead prioritize strengthening relations with all BRICS member countries.