Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he will not be attending the upcoming BRICS summit hosted by South Africa, set to take place from August 22 to August 24. The BRICS summit brings together the member countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to discuss issues of mutual interest and global significance.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office released a statement on Wednesday revealing that the decision for Putin’s absence was jointly made by Russia and African authorities. The main reason behind this move is the issuance of an arrest warrant against Putin by the International Court of Justice (ICC) earlier in the year. As a signatory member of the ICC, Africa would be legally obligated to detain the Russian President if he were to set foot on African soil.
To address the complex situation, President Ramaphosa personally reached out to the ICC on Tuesday, seeking permission to forego the arrest of Putin. Ramaphosa’s rationale for this request was that the potential arrest of a sitting head of state could have severe diplomatic repercussions and be misinterpreted as a declaration of war.
The arrest warrant issued by the ICC in March has been a matter of contention and has added considerable complexity to the planning of the BRICS summit, given Putin’s crucial role within the alliance. His absence from the summit may have implications for the discussions and outcomes of the meeting, as Russia’s participation is integral to the group’s collective decisions.
The BRICS alliance, which represents a significant portion of the world’s population and economic power, aims to promote cooperation and development among its member countries. The annual summit serves as a platform to address various global issues, including economic development, climate change, and geopolitical challenges.
The absence of President Putin will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion during the summit, and leaders from the other BRICS nations may use the opportunity to address the ongoing concerns related to the ICC’s arrest warrant.
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