Carlos Miguel Pereira’s overtures to Putin come two weeks before BRICS members meet at the bloc’s annual summit. Photo: Valery Sharifulin/AFP via Getty Images

“Cuba has officially requested its incorporation into the BRICS as a ‘Partner Country,’ through a letter to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, who holds the Presidency of the Group, which is consolidating as a key player in global geopolitics and hope for the countries of the South,” Pereira said on X.

Pereira’s overtures to Putin come two weeks before BRICS members meet at the bloc’s annual summit which is scheduled for Oct. 22-24 in the Russian city of Kazan.

The Caribbean country’s bid to join the bloc arrives shortly after Azerbaijan confirmed it is also pushing for membership, following a meeting between Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Membership of BRICS is invitation-only, and multiple countries were given the chance to join at the start of this year, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Argentina also received an invitation but said it won’t join.

BRICS was founded in 2009 to foster closer ties among Russia, China, India and Brazil, and now comprises nine members. It is becoming a geopolitical and economic rival to the Western bloc of G7 countries.