THE Brics summit of major developing countries began their debate on whether to expand their bloc in Johannesburg today.

More than 20 countries have formally applied to join the group, named for its founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, officials say.

Applicants include Saudi Arabia and Iran, and if every aspiring member joined the group would account for 45 per cent of the world economy.

Four of the bloc’s leaders are in Johannesburg for the group’s first in-person meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not attending after an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for him over the war in Ukraine complicated his travel to South Africa, but he was participating virtually while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended in person.

In a pre-recorded speech on Tuesday, Mr Putin blasted the West over the war in Ukraine and the financial sanctions placed on Russia as punishment for its invasion.

He said that a critical deal allowing Ukraine to move grain out of its Black Sea ports that Russia halted last month would not be reinstated unless Russian conditions were met.

In a speech at the Brics business council, read out on his behalf by Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, President Xi Jinping committed China to working “with all other countries to speed up co-operation under the Global Development Initiative, strengthen drivers of global development, promote the reform of the World Trade Organisation in a comprehensive and in-depth manner, meet common challenges together and make life better for people across the world.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva said today that he had visited 21 African countries during his periods in office and the continent will shape Brazilian policy “for many years to come.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the connecting role of Brics for the entire population of the bloc.

He said: “The Brics group exists not only to strengthen government-to-government relations, but also to forge stronger ties between the peoples of our five nations.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also focused on the role of the Brics business council in the current geopolitical environment, saying that “in the last 10 years, the Brics business council has played a vital role in enhancing our economic co-operation.”

The Brics summit is scheduled to end on Thursday after which a joint statement will be issued by the current members.