Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that if Syria’s new government applies to join BRICS, its request would be taken into serious consideration. Speaking to TASS news agency, Ryabkov stated, “There is no doubt that we seriously consider the applications of all countries, and Syria is no exception.” However, he emphasized that BRICS would not pressure or influence Syria’s decision, saying, “We are not forcing anyone, we are not encouraging anyone to do anything, and we respect any choice.”
In October, Syria’s ambassador to Moscow, Bashar Jaafari, revealed that Damascus was actively discussing the possibility of joining BRICS. Moscow has reaffirmed its support for Syria in this pursuit, highlighting the historic ties between the two nations. The BRICS bloc, originally founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanded in 2011 with the inclusion of South Africa. In a significant wave of growth, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates became members as of January 1, 2024.
Recent developments suggest a strategic shift in Moscow’s approach to Syria. The Kremlin has begun direct negotiations with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a key political and military entity in the region, to safeguard Russian military interests in the Middle East. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov confirmed contact with HTS’s political committee. Meanwhile, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani, now identifying as Ahmed Sharaa, expressed openness to redefining relations with Russia, noting the opportunity to “reconsider relations in a way that serves common interests.”
Simultaneously, the Syrian Embassy in Moscow raised the flag of the new administration, signaling readiness to follow directives from the country’s new leadership. This marks a notable pivot in the geopolitical alignment between Russia and Syria.
Former diplomat Nikolai Sokov, a senior fellow at the Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, highlighted Russia’s pragmatic approach. In an interview with The Guardian, he remarked, “Moscow prefers to work with those who have power and control and discards those who lose it.”
Dara Massicot, an analyst at the Carnegie Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies in Berlin, noted that while Russia could extend financial, energy, or resource-based support to the new Syrian government, the coalition’s specific demands remain uncertain.
