Morocco is interested in joining the BRICS, an intergovernmental economic and political organization that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. At least that's what Yuri Ushakov, advisor to the Russian president for international affairs, stated on Monday, December 23, in statements to the press. The official included the kingdom on a list of 20 countries from Africa, Asia, and South America that, according to him, share the ambition to join the BRICS. This announcement comes as Saudi Arabia, a member of this bloc since January 1, 2024, has decided to «suspend the process of its membership». Officially, Morocco has not submitted its application to join the BRICS. At the last summit of this bloc, held in October in Kazan, Russia, the kingdom was not on the list of the 13 countries that have acquired observer member status with this organization. Even though the kingdom is reluctant to take the step of joining, it participates in economic ministerial meetings of this club, which is still seeking an identity. As a reminder, China invited Morocco to participate in the 2024 BRICS Forum on partnership for the new industrial revolution, which the Chinese city of Xiamen hosted in September. The kingdom was then represented by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour. Morocco maintains strategic relations with Russia, China, and India, three founding members of the BRICS, as well as with the United Arab Emirates, which joined the bloc in January 2024. However, its ties with South Africa are cold. The government of President Cyril Ramaphosa does not hesitate to announce that it opposes the kingdom's integration into this bloc.
