BRICS: Saudi Arabia will attend the alliance meeting in 2024

Saudi Arabia is currently considering joining the BRICS coalition, carefully weighing the benefits and drawbacks before making a final decision.

Although it has not formally joined the bloc, Saudi Arabia has shown an active interest by participating in various BRICS events in 2024. In particular, the Kingdom sent delegates to participate in two separate Sherpa meetings held in Russia earlier this year year.

This aspiration suggests that Saudi Arabia may also consider participating in the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled for October this year, which will be held in the Kazan region of Russia. It is worth noting that last year the summit extended invitations to several non-member countries and this time a similar approach is expected, with various developing countries expected to be included.

Although the decision to join BRICS has not yet been made, Saudi Arabia may choose to participate in the upcoming summit. According to the statements of the Russian diplomat Sergey Ryabkov Saudi Arabia looks favorably on BRICS and sees potential in the alliance. Representatives of the kingdom have informed Russia that they are actively involved in ongoing discussions to determine their position on membership.

A resolution on the potential inclusion of Saudi Arabia in BRICS is expected by the end of April. Although President Putin previously announced the inclusion of Saudi Arabia in BRICS, the Kingdom has not yet confirmed or denied this declaration. Despite the lack of official confirmation, the situation regarding the membership remains transparent, with the Kingdom not making an official rebuttal to the statement.

Saudi Arabia is carefully navigating its options when considering BRICS membership, seeking to strike a balance between its relations with the BRICS and the West, which are of strategic importance to the Kingdom.

The timing of the BRICS invitation coincides with Saudi Arabia's broader program to boost tourism and liberalize its economy. While seeking support from Western countries for its economic reforms, the Kingdom views its potential participation in BRICS as a means of strengthening international trust and cooperation on a wider scale.