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Algeria 'interested' in joining Russia-linked BRICS group

Algeria 'interested' in joining China, Russia-linked BRICS group, President Tebboune says
MENA
2 min read
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said the North African country, which is Africa's largest natural gas importer, meets "a good part" of the economic criteria for joining BRICS.
President Tebboune said that the BRICS interests Algeria, as 'an alternative to traditional power centres' [Getty]

Algerian President has suggested that his country, Africa's largest natural gas exporter, could join the economic group that includes Russia and China.

comment comes after - whose country is hit with Western sanctions over its Ukraine invasion - in June called on BRICS leaders to move towards "formation of a truly multipolar system of inter-government relations".

The BRICS group also includes the major emerging economies of Brazil, and South Africa.

"The BRICS interest us" as an alternative to traditional power centres, Tebboune said in a televised interview late Sunday. "They constitute an economic and political force".

He underlined that there was no need to "get ahead of things" but promised "good news".

Perspectives

The president added that his meets "a good part" of the economic criteria for joining the bloc.

currently account for nearly a quarter of the world's gross domestic product.

Tebboune participated in a BRICS virtual summit at the end of June, when Putin called on leaders of the group to cooperate in the face of "selfish actions" from the West.

have pushed Putin to seek new markets and strengthen ties with countries in Africa and Asia.

Algiers abstained when the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution in March demanding Russia immediately .

China, India and South Africa also abstained.

On a visit to Algeria in May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said trade between his country and Algeria had reached $3 billion last year.