French President Emmanuel Macron is signaling an interest in attending the BRICS gathering scheduled to take place in South Africa. The idea is framed as a strategic move to engage with emerging powers at a time when global alignment shifts are reshaping economic and political influence. Sources familiar with the matter describe Macron’s intention as a bid to participate in conversations that matter for the direction of international governance and global markets.
According to reporting in major outlets, the French leader hopes to join the BRICS forum with the aim of strengthening ties with rising economies and exploring avenues for closer cooperation beyond traditional Western-centric channels. It is noted that Macron has already reached out to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the host of the autumn meeting, requesting the opportunity to attend and contribute to the discussions. This outreach underscores Paris’s interest in positioning itself at the table where decisions about development, trade, and climate cooperation are increasingly shaped by a broader set of nations.
Commentary around the proposal has been mixed. Some observers describe the move as audacious, while others caution that Macron would be stepping into a forum that has been pursuing a different governance model than the US-led order. The debate highlights whether a Western leader can be the first high-profile state guest to participate in a BRICS summit that has often been viewed as a club of developing and rapidly growing economies seeking greater influence on the world stage.
On the topic of attendance, South African authorities are examining practical options to ensure representation if Vladimir Putin is unable to attend in person. One approach would be to have the Russian Foreign Ministry represent Moscow at the event, while another option would be for Putin to participate via a video link. In parallel, consideration is being given to whether the host country might invite China, which hosted the BRICS summit in the previous year, to act as the host nation this time or to share hosting responsibilities in some capacity, given the evolving nature of BRICS arrangements and regional participation.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for President Putin, a development connected to Russia not recognizing the ICC’s jurisdiction. South Africa recognizes the ICC and would therefore be required to arrest Putin if he enters the country and is within its borders. Diplomatic immunity granted to participants for the summit does not exempt individuals from potential arrest actions, and such considerations are expected to influence both travel plans and the security and diplomatic arrangements surrounding the event. Analysts note that the legal and diplomatic dimensions of hosting or participating in BRICS are interwoven with broader questions about international accountability and the balance of power in global governance.
As discussions unfold, observers in Paris, Pretoria, and capitals around the world are watching how the BRICS alliance may evolve. The summit continues to attract attention not only for its roster of member states but also for what the gathering signals about global cooperation, trade routes, and the response to shared challenges such as investment in infrastructure, sustainable development, and responses to geopolitical tensions. The conversations held in the run-up to the summit are likely to influence policy directions and strategic choices for many nations, including those outside the BRICS framework who seek to align with the forces shaping the 21st-century economy.