The Cuban regime reaffirmed its aspiration to become a full member of the BRICS, despite the fact that the bloc currently does not have a new expansion on the table and Russia recently ruled out supporting the island's incorporation.
The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Carlos Jorge Méndez, stated this Tuesday that Cuba's full entry would benefit not only Havana but also the organization.
"It would be good for us and also for the organization," Méndez stated to the Russian state media Sputnik, following the XVIII BRICS Summit held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
Cuba is currently participating in the bloc as a partner country, a status lower than full member that allows it to engage in BRICS activities, but without a vote or decision-making power.
Méndez argued that the Cuban regime's experience in cooperation could offer a valuable contribution to the group.
"From Cuba, we contribute to the BRICS our experience in cooperation and solidarity, as well as our perspective on how Southern countries can support each other and work towards the integration of their economies for the benefit of their populations," he stated.
The official also described the New Delhi summit as a step forward in consolidating a multipolar order and highlighted the possibilities for economic cooperation among the countries of the so-called Global South.
The Cuban delegation was led by Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who participated in the open session on Sunday and held bilateral meetings with representatives from several countries.
The final declaration of the summit included a rejection of the economic, trade, and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba, a position that Havana routinely promotes in international organizations and forums.
However, Cuba's aspirations for full membership clash with the stance recently expressed by one of its main allies.
At the beginning of September, Russia dismissed Cuba's request to become a full member for now. The Russian Embassy in Havana indicated at that time, citing the newspaper Izvestia, that a new expansion of the BRICS "is not on the table."
The admission of new members requires the consensus of the full members of the group, which means Havana cannot progress in its aspirations without the backing of Moscow and the other countries that are part of the bloc.
Cuba officially requested its admission to the BRICS in October 2024, and that same month it achieved the status of partner country. Since then, the regime has continued its diplomatic offensive to deepen its involvement in the group.
In July 2025, Miguel Díaz-Canel attended the Rio de Janeiro summit representing Cuba as a partner country.
Méndez's recent statements indicate that Havana remains steadfast in its ambition to achieve full membership, although there is currently no consensus within the BRICS on opening up another expansion of the bloc.
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