Paris has requested to attend a BRICS summit scheduled to take place in South Africa in August, France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Monday, June 19, 2023.
“We are thinking aloud – but this is obviously a decision that only the countries concerned can take – about the possibility of continuing this dialogue, why not at the BRICS summit or in another format,” she said following talks with her South African counterpart Naledi Pandor.
BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It is seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of developed nations, who’ve been highly critical of China and Russia.
South Africa is currently holding the BRICS presidency, and President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit Paris later this week to further discuss the French request.
French President Emmanuel Macron, regarded as Europe’s most prominent globalist leader, has reportedly sought an invitation from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Pretoria in August.
Macron’s request stems from his desire to uphold France’s historical influence in Africa, known as la Françafrique, and to establish a stronger presence on the global stage to compete with the United States and counter Russia’s growing influence in the region. The la Françafrique was General Charles de Gaulle’s idea of France’s informal sphere of influence in Africa.
The French president expressed his interest in participating in the summit during a phone conversation with Ramaphosa on June 3, 2023.
President Ramaphosa, after consulting with other BRICS partners, responded diplomatically without indicating whether the invitation would be extended to additional international leaders. This potential invitation is seen as a significant development by Macron’s team, as it could mark a turning point in France’s engagement with the BRICS countries.
After news of Macron’s request was made public, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reacted by calling on Paris to clarify its motives, saying, “It would be nice if they told us why they want to attend.”
Macron’s potential participation in the BRICS summit could have political implications, particularly if he encounters Vladimir Putin at the same event. It is uncertain whether Putin would attend the summit due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
However, if Putin does attend and clashes with Macron, it could create tensions not only between them but also potentially affect the views of leaders like Vladimir Zelensky (Ukraine), and Joe Biden (USA). At present, the Kremlin may not consider Macron as a suitable “partner.”
Additionally, Pretoria, as the summit’s host, is bound by the Rome Statute of the ICC, which implies formal recognition of the court’s jurisdiction. Consequently, in theory, they could arrest Putin upon his arrival in South Africa. This situation has raised concerns for Cyril Ramaphosa, and his government is currently considering the possibility of introducing a special law that would grant immunity to visiting heads of state, thus allowing leaders like Putin to set foot in the rainbow nation.
