The BRICS group, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has made a significant announcement regarding its expansion plans. During a summit in South Africa, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President Xi Jinping, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, were seen walking together, symbolizing the group’s solidarity. These emerging nations collectively declared their intention to invite new members to join the club. Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia are the countries that have received invitations to become part of the BRICS group. This move emphasizes the group’s growing role as an alternative to Western-led forums in the geopolitical landscape. The new members are set to officially join in January, enhancing the group’s influence on a global scale.
BREAKING: Following countries to join BRICS:
๐ธ๐ฆ Saudi Arabia
๐ฎ๐ท Iran
๐ฆ๐ท Argentina
๐ช๐ฌ Egypt
๐ช๐น Ethiopia
๐ฆ๐ช UAE— BRICS (@BRICSinfo) August 24, 2023
With a quarter of the world’s economy and approximately 40 percent of the world’s population, the BRICS group aims to establish itself as a counterweight to dominant Western-led forums such as the Group of Seven (G7) and the World Bank. The expansion has attracted significant attention worldwide, highlighting the group’s increasing impact. However, despite presenting a united front during the conference, the BRICS members hold differing views on the expansion. Some leaders express concerns about reverting to a divisive global order reminiscent of the Cold War era.
For India, which is involved in a territorial dispute with China, it is crucial to maintain its own influence within the group and avoid being overshadowed by countries closer to China. Brazil and South Africa also express caution in order not to alienate their European and North American partners. The inclusion of Iran in the group is seen as a consequence of pressure from Russia and China. The expansion of the BRICS group signifies its growing influence and its commitment to providing an alternative voice in the global geopolitical landscape. By inviting new members, the group aims to further challenge the dominance of Western-led forums, ultimately shaping the future of international relations.