Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday, during a press conference after the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, that Western countries have no chance of becoming members of BRICS.  

Referencing preconditions for joining BRICS, Ryabkov said that countries have no chance of being admitted if they happen to enforce illegal sanctions against any of the members of the bloc.

All the six countries that were invited to join BRICS at the summit, namely Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, all comply with this precondition, he said. 

On the other hand, Western countries "are following exactly the opposite course, so there is no question of inviting anyone from this group not only to join BRICS but even to participate in its events," Ryabkov said.

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This, however, does not rule out the possibility of Western countries ever being admitted into the organization. 

If any of these countries decide "to break ranks despite the tough discipline within the Western camp" and abandon anti-Russian sanctions, membership applications could be put forth for consideration. 

On another note, Ryabkov brought into consideration that the US was mounting pressure on other countries in order to prevent a shift in the global balance of power after the BRICS expanded. 

However, "the process of diluting the role of the collective West in world affairs is irreversible," he noted, adding that he was certain Russia’s allies are aware enough to recognize the pressure that the West is exerting upon the world.

Read more: BRICS expansion could undermine G7 dominance: Financial Times