On November 25, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), together with the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), held a roundtable, “Integration of Global South Countries into BRICS: The Case of Africa.” During the event, experts discussed the potential for integrating BRICS members and partner countries, the advantages and limitations of partner-country status within BRICS, and the prospects for further BRICS expansion. Speakers also examined the integration process of BRICS partner states, the interest of African countries in the association, South Africa's role within it, and other items on the agenda. The roundtable included a presentation of RIAC's analytical brief, “‘Flexible Integration’ in BRICS: A Window of Opportunity for Africa.”
On November 25, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), together with the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), held a roundtable, “Integration of Global South Countries into BRICS: The Case of Africa.” During the event, experts discussed the potential for integrating BRICS members and partner countries, the advantages and limitations of partner-country status within BRICS, and the prospects for further BRICS expansion. Speakers also examined the integration process of BRICS partner states, the interest of African countries in the association, South Africa's role within it, and other items on the agenda. The roundtable included a presentation of RIAC's analytical brief, “‘Flexible Integration’ in BRICS: A Window of Opportunity for Africa.”
Participants included Mikhail Malkov, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Vladimir Poluektov, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in South Africa; Elena Karpinskaya, RIAC Director of Programs; Daria Zelenova, Head of the Center for the Study of Africa’s BRICS Strategy at the Institute for African Studies of RAS; Vladimir Shubin, Chief Research Fellow at the Institute for African Studies of RAS and Honorary Doctor of the University of the Western Cape (South Africa); Denis Degterev, Chief Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of Problems of Transitional Economy at the Institute for African Studies of RAS; Vsevolod Sviridov, Deputy Director of the Center for African Studies at HSE University; Tamara Andreeva, Junior Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of Africa’s BRICS Strategy at the Institute for African Studies of RAS; Sofya Zamesina, Junior Research Fellow at the Institute for African Studies of RAS; and Konstantin Sukhoverkhov, RIAC Program Manager.
