Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate on Tuesday in a virtual summit of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) dedicated to the “Israeli-Palestinian conflict” in the midst of the Gaza war, the Kremlin announced Monday, November 20, confirming an announcement from the South African presidency. The Russian presidency has not given any details regarding the agenda for this online meeting of the leaders of this bloc of emerging countries in search of a less American-centric global balance. The next day, Vladimir Putin will participate in a G20 summit, also online.
Vladimir Putin had to give up participating in the last annual meetings of the BRICS and the G20, respectively in South Africa and India, the Russian president being targeted by an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for his role in the deportation of Ukrainian children.
Mr. Putin strives to present himself as the champion of the fight against American hegemonism, placing his assault on Ukraine in this perspective.
South Africa, a fervent defender of Palestine
South Africa will chair this extraordinary BRICS meeting on Tuesday. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who on Friday requested an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the current war between Israel and the Gaza Strip, along with four other states, will open this BRICS meeting, the statement said. from Pretoria. United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also attend the meeting, after which leaders “are expected to adopt a joint statement on the situation in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza.”
The South African government announced at the beginning of November to recall its diplomats stationed in Israel for consultations, to “signal” its “concern” about the “atrocities” committed, according to it, by Israel in Gaza. Pretoria has long been a staunch defender of the Palestinian cause, with the ANC, its ruling party since the advent of democracy in the country, often drawing parallels with its own historic struggle against apartheid.
Regarding the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the Kremlin calls for a ceasefire and repeats that the only way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East is the creation of a Palestinian state. Vladimir Putin estimated that the United States is responsible for the ongoing deadly conflict, accusing it of having monopolized the Israeli-Palestinian peace process for years without ever managing to find a solution.