The Kremlin expressed regret on Friday over Argentina's decision not to join the BRICS bloc of nations and expressed hope that Buenos Aires would reconsider. Argentina's incoming Foreign Minister Diana Mondino had announced in November that his country would not join the BRICS grouping of developing nations despite being invited to do so, instead choosing to deepen ties with the United States. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, "Of course this is regrettable, but this is the sovereign right of Argentina, and we respect any decision of Buenos Aires.

We, in turn, as far as Argentina is concerned, hope that over time the leadership of this country may consider it more profitable for itself to return to BRICS." The BRICS bloc, which was initially comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa, is in the process of expanding to admit other nations, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates agreeing to join in August. This move is aimed at accelerating the bloc's push to reshuffle what it sees as an outdated world order.