Putin says Brics should become trading bloc representing ‘global majority’

Vladimir Putin has told a summit of the Brics group of countries in South Africa that it should become a trading bloc representing the “global majority”.

However, differences among the group – comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – have become apparent at the summit over accepting new members, and whether to turn BRICS into a geopolitical counterweight to the west.

Brics group looks to expand at summit despite divisions among key members.

Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, insisted on Tuesday that it was not the group’s aim to compete with western institutions.

“We do not want to be a counterpoint to the G7, G20 or the United States,” he said on Tuesday. “We just want to organize ourselves.”

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