BAKU — Azerbaijan has formally submitted its application for membership in the BRICS group, as confirmed by Aykhan Hajizada, head of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Azerbaijan’s interest in joining BRICS was previously signaled during the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana on July 3. In the “Joint Declaration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China on the establishment of a strategic partnership,” Azerbaijan expressed its desire to join the BRICS group, with China welcoming this participation.

BRICS, an intergovernmental organization originally consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, now also includes Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Initially identified for investment opportunities, BRICS has since evolved into a geopolitical bloc with member governments meeting annually at formal summits and coordinating multilateral policies since 2009. The group’s cooperation is based on principles of non-interference, equality, and mutual benefit.