French President Emmanuel Macron, who sought to participate in the events of the upcoming BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit, did not receive an invitation, a South African news outlet reported.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, as chairman of the BRICS, sent invitations to the leaders of 70 countries to the unification summit, but neither French President Macron nor the leaders of the United States and United Kingdom are among those invited, the publication said.
The next day, August 24, leaders of the BRICS countries will hold meetings with the heads of state and government invited through cooperation with BRICS, and a general meeting will also be held.
Along with the heads of state and government of Africa, 11 leaders of countries of the Global South, representing regional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Group of 77 (G77), the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC), were invited to the events. Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate online in all sessions of the leaders of the BRICS member countries.
South Africa's current BRICS presidency is the third in a row. With the onset of 2024, the BRICS chairship passes to Russia.
A French newspaper reported in June, citing sources in the Elysee Palace, that Macron had asked South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for an invitation to the upcoming BRICS summit. A source was cited as saying that South Africa did not say whether it was prepared to allow other international leaders beyond member states to attend the event. Later, Macron's top diplomat, Catherine Colonna, comfirmed that the president was interested in coming to Johannesburg as an observer in August to attend the meeting of Brazilian, Russian, Indian, Chinese and South African leaders