BRICS not to discuss Pakistan's membership request today

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s formal request for BRICS membership will not come up for consideration in its meeting being held today (Monday) in Brazil.

Diplomatic sources disclose that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has cancelled his US visit to address the UN General Assembly summit, succumbing to US President Trump’s pressure, will not attend the BRICS meeting as well. External Affairs Minister J. Shankar will attend the meeting virtually.

China has announced that at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President Xi Jinping will attend the BRICS Leaders Meeting via video link and deliver an important address.

Sources maintained that BRICS leaders will meet via videoconference today (September 8). Brazilian presidential administration told media that the composition of the participants has not been confirmed, but the summit is open to all members of the association.

The agenda of the meeting will include issues of multipolarity, the upcoming 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), as well as conflicts in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine.

Experts believe the issue of a collective response to the US tariff policy may also be included in the list of topics of the summit.