Why Does Palestine Want to Join the BRICS Now?

In the face of a constantly evolving international context and internal challenges exacerbated by the conflict in Gaza, Palestine seeks to redefine its strategic positioning on the global stage. With this in mind, the country plans to submit an official application for membership in BRICS, a group of increasingly influential emerging economies. Personally invited by Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the upcoming summit in Kazan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas views this move as an opportunity to diversify Palestine’s alliances, strengthen its diplomatic influence, and reduce dependence on Western aid. This geopolitical shift could well mark a decisive chapter for Palestine in its quest for recognition and autonomy on the international stage.

Palestine and its Quest for BRICS Membership

In a recent statement, Abdel Hafiz Nofal, the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow, confirmed that Palestine was considering submitting an official application for membership in BRICS after the planned summit in Kazan. This announcement follows a personal invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the summit. This invitation sounds like an implicit recognition of Palestine’s importance in international discussions, despite the challenging context of the conflict in Gaza.

Palestine aspires to associate with emerging economies such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, which recently joined BRICS. This group expansion represents a unique opportunity for Palestine to diversify its economic and political alliances while benefiting from a global platform to assert its rights and aspirations. Indeed, beyond economic challenges, BRICS membership would offer Palestine a way to strengthen its diplomatic position and gain new support on the international stage.

A New Geopolitical Strategy in Play

Palestine’s strategy to join BRICS could profoundly transform its international position. By integrating into this group of emerging economies, it could reduce its dependence on Western aid and diversify its sources of economic and diplomatic support. This bold move could also strengthen international solidarity towards the Palestinian cause while offering economic opportunities through bilateral and multilateral agreements within the group.

However, this initiative could also generate mixed reactions from Palestine’s traditional partners, particularly those with tense relations with certain BRICS members. The foreign policy of BRICS could be significantly affected, especially if Palestine uses this platform to promote resolutions concerning the situation in the Middle East. Moreover, this attempt to join such a divisive bloc reflects Palestine’s desire to play a more active and influential role on the international stage, despite the many obstacles to overcome.