The presidency of South Africa announced today that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the upcoming BRICS nations summit in South Africa next month, reported AFP.
The decision comes after months of speculation surrounding the possibility of Putins attendance, which had posed a diplomatic challenge for Pretoria.
President Cyril Ramaphosas spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated that the absence of President Putin at the summit was mutually agreed upon. Instead, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent Russia at the gathering of BRICS leaders, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
The decision was reached following extensive consultations conducted by President Ramaphosa, with the most recent discussion held last night.
One of the key factors influencing the decision is the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Putin. South Africa, as an ICC member, would be expected to implement the warrant should Putin set foot in the country. The warrant is related to allegations of Russia unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.
To avoid any potential confrontation or legal complications, both South Africa and Russia decided it would be in the best interest of the summit for President Putin to abstain from attending.
South Africa, as the current chair of the BRICS group, considers itself a counterweight to Western economic dominance. Hosting Putin, who is sought by the ICC, could have had significant implications for the countrys domestic and international standing.
The decision to exclude Putin was made under considerable domestic and international pressure.
President Ramaphosa expressed confidence in the success of the upcoming summit and called on the nation to extend hospitality to the attending delegates from various parts of the globe.
The decision to refrain from hosting Putin aligns with South Africas desire to maintain neutrality in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, critics have accused the country of leaning towards Moscow in the past.
By avoiding Putins visit, South Africa aims to protect its strong economic and trade relations with the United States and Europe. Although trade ties with Russia are smaller, the historical support of the African National Congress party by the Kremlin during apartheid has fostered a longstanding relationship.
In recent interviews with local media, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile revealed that the government had been actively persuading Putin to reconsider his attendance at the summit.
