Iraq expresses interest in joining BRICS

Iraq has expressed its desire to become a member of the BRICS group of nations, according to the Iraqi Ambassador to Russia, Abdul-Karim Hashim Mostafa. In an interview with TASS, the ambassador stated, "BRICS is a very important organization and I hope that Iraq one day will be part of it." He added that Iraq's potential accession depends on various factors, including the organization's structure and membership conditions, but described it as "a good idea."

BRICS was initiated by Russia in 2006, with Brazil, Russia, India, and China as founding members. South Africa joined in 2011, leading to the group's current name. The bloc held its first summit in Yekaterinburg in June 2009, where it outlined its goals of fostering consistent, active, pragmatic, and open dialogue and cooperation among members. It later adopted principles of non-alignment and non-confrontation with third parties.

In January 2024, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia became full members, followed by Indonesia in January 2025. According to the report by Mehr News, the Iraqi ambassador's remarks signal Baghdad's growing interest in multilateral cooperation and economic integration with emerging economies.