Johannesburg – President Cyril Ramaphosa has maintained silence on the outcome of discussions to potentially relocate the upcoming BRICS summit to China, following a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. While the primary focus of the call was the African Leaders’ Peace Mission to Ukraine and Russia, speculations are rife that the relocation of the five-member bloc’s meeting was also on the agenda. This has led to widespread conjecture that South Africa may relinquish its hosting responsibilities to address the issue surrounding Russia’s participation.
The BRICS summit, which is scheduled to take place later this year, is a crucial moment for South Africa as it assumes the role of host for this annual event, where leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa come together. During the summit, delegates will discuss strategies to enhance existing political, social, and economic ties among the member countries.
However, the lead-up to the 15th summit has been overshadowed by concerns over the potential attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes. Despite being signatories to the Rome Statute, the South African government has indicated that it is unlikely to comply with the ICC’s warrant of arrest for Putin.
During his conversation with President Ramaphosa, President Xi Jinping’s stance on potentially hosting the summit on behalf of South Africa to resolve the dilemma remains unclear. However, the Presidency has stated that both leaders have committed to working towards a successful summit.
President Xi Jinping reportedly commended Africa’s efforts in facilitating a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the African continent’s role in diplomatic peacemaking.