BRICS nations did not discuss expanding the group during the recent summit in New Delhi; however, Russia supports Cuba’s aspiration to join the association, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday.
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“Specific country candidacies for expansion were not debated. Undoubtedly, Russia supports Cuba’s aspirations to join the work within the BRICS framework,” Peskov noted at his daily press briefing.
The spokesman indicated that President Vladimir Putin had returned from his trip to India, describing it as highly significant. During meetings with his counterparts from China (Xi Jinping) and India (Narendra Modi), the leaders showed great interest in the Ukrainian conflict and expressed a willingness to contribute to a political solution. Peskov emphasized that “any country can exert influence on the Kyiv regime to make it more flexible.”
Regarding the bloc’s structure, BRICS currently comprises 11 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. Joining this core group are countries with “partner” status, including Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Belarus.
This category, created in 2024, offers an intermediate arrangement. Partners can participate in summits and specific ministerial meetings but do not take part in decision-making. This status allows BRICS to expand its geographic and political reach without compounding the difficulties of reaching consensus within the core group.
En el marco de la Cumbre de #BRICS2026 sostuve fructíferos encuentros con los Cancilleres de Brasil, Mauro Vieira, India, @DrSJaishankar, Tailandia @SihasakPh, e Irán @araghchi.
Destacamos la necesidad de continuar fortaleciendo los vínculos bilaterales y de aprovechar las… pic.twitter.com/hA3nGvlcjw
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) September 13, 2026
The text reads, “Within the framework of the #BRICS2026 Summit, I held fruitful meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Mauro Vieira, India, @DrSJaishankar, Thailand @SihasakPh, and Iran @araghchi. We highlighted the need to continue strengthening bilateral ties and to leverage the political and economic potentialities of the BRICS Group.”
BRICS Declaration
However, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez highlighted a BRICS declaration on Sunday expressing the Group’s deep concern regarding the situation on the island, caused by the intensification and adverse effects of the United States’ economic blockade sanctions.
“That document reflects the BRICS countries’ condemnation of and opposition to the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that run counter to international law,” noted Rodríguez on social media; he is attending the gathering in New Delhi leading the Cuban delegation in the country’s capacity as a partner of the bloc.
The Cuban diplomat pointed out that the BRICS declaration underscores the far-reaching negative implications of Washington’s measures for human rights—including the rights to development, health, and food security—affecting the general populations of nations.
Addressing the summit, Rodríguez stated that the U.S. measures amount to collective punishment against the Cuban people. Their indiscriminate nature and humanitarian impact are incalculable, causing great suffering for Cuban families.
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