Ryzhenkov: Belarus considers BRICS as a strategic platform for shaping the future

Belarus views BRICS not just as an association, but as a strategic platform for shaping the future. Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov said this in an interview with the Indian newspaper The Economic Times, sb.by reports.

First of all, the Belarusian Foreign Minister thanked the Indian side not only for inviting our country to the summit as a partner country, but also for the constructive approach to cooperation with partners throughout the entire period of its presidency in BRICS.

- Thanks to this approach, in 2026 we took part not only in the traditional meeting of foreign ministers, but also in the relevant BRICS events on health, culture and agriculture, as well as in meetings at the level of chairpersons of the supreme courts. We hope that Belarus’ active participation in the association’s work at all levels and in various formats will bring us closer to our ultimate goal of full membership in the association. Speaking about the XVIII BRICS Summit held in Delhi on September 12-13, where Maxim Ryzhenkov takes part on behalf of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the Foreign Minister stressed that the motto of the Indian Chairmanship this year – “Strengthening Resilience, Encouraging Innovation, Enhancing Cooperation and Promoting Sustainable Development” – is more relevant than ever. In addition, he outlined a number of the most important topics for both BRICS and Belarus in particular:

- In an era of instability, the establishment by BRICS member states and partners of credible mechanisms to protect their sovereignty, economies and societies is of paramount importance. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Indian side for supporting Belarus’ candidacy to become a shareholder of the New Development Bank. Belarus has a highly developed sector of information technologies, so we are interested in discussing the topic of artificial intelligence, as well as related ethical, economic and other challenges. We believe that innovation should foster shared prosperity and progress, not become a tool of division and domination.

In an interview with The Economic Times, Maxim Ryzhenkov called BRICS an association that is perceived around the world as the voice of the world majority and as an important force ensuring global stability, progress and a more equitable future:

BRICS members and partners have consistently advocated a multilateral approach in international relations. We call not for dismantling the international order, but for modernizing it to make it more representative, inclusive and democratic. Global governance should not remain the privilege of a narrow club of states. Sustainable development remains an absolute priority, involving a harmonious combination of economic growth, social justice and environmental protection. Belarus views BRICS not just as an association, but as a strategic platform for shaping the future. The group faces large-scale tasks that can only be solved by joint efforts.