South Africa: French President Emmanuel Macron not invited to BRICS summit

In South Africa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, held a press briefing on Monday, August 7, to review the preparation of the BRICS summit – a group of five countries that brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – that the country is organizing from August 22 to 24 in Johannesburg. French President Emmanuel Macron was not invited.

Naledi Pandor, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, addresses a press conference on the second day of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Cape Town, June 02, 2023. AFP - RODGER BOSCH

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès

Naledi Pandor mentioned the guest list, which includes 67 leaders from African and Southern countries. It was already established that Russian President Vladimir Putin will follow the summit virtually and that he will be represented by Sergey Lavrov. On the other hand, Naledi Pandor also said that the French president was not invited.

Emmanuel Macron had made known his desire to participate in this BRICS summit, notably through his Minister of Foreign Affairs. To justify a possible visit of the French president as an observer, Catherine Colonna had explained, during a trip to South Africa at the end of June, that "we must talk to understand each other and to find solutions". Her South African counterpart was not totally opposed to this possibility.

The idea finally flopped, since Naledi Pandor confirmed, on Monday, August 7, that "no invitation has been sent in this sense", a decision taken in consensus with the other BRICS countries and which will not displease the Kremlin. Moscow said such an invitation would be "inappropriate," given the France's stance on the war in Ukraine and its membership of NATO.

The possibility of the participation of a head of state of a Western country had caused surprise when it was mentioned, but it is in fact part of the logic of Emmanuel Macron who claimed in the French press, during his visit to China, "to reject a logic of block to block" and advocate European "strategic autonomy".

" READ ALSO South Africa: Catherine Colonna confirms the wish of Paris to be invited to the BRICS summit

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  • South Africa
  • BRICS
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  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Russia