6 More Countries Set To Join BRICS From January 1 Next Year To Expand Global Influence

In a latest development, BRICS group of nations are all set to invite six more countries to become full members, confirmed South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa. These nations are Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. These countries will now join Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa, added Ramaphosa. The membership of these new countries will become effective from January 1 next year, according to reports.

With the latest move, it will be the first expansion of BRICS in 13 years or since 2010.
Earlier, top leaders from India, China, South Africa, Brazil, and Russia unanimously agreed for the expansion of BRICS group at the recently held summit this week
in Johannesburg.

According to a report published earlier in Bloomberg, top emerging market nations are set to invite leading oil exporter Saudi Arabia and many other nations to join their bloc in an effort to expand its global influence.

Egypt is another nation being invited to join, along with others in the Middle East although the list was still under discussion late Wednesday, people familiar with the talks said, declining to be identified because the discussions are private. Members have said a bigger group could help counter the dominance of the Group of Seven in world affairs, reported Bloomberg.

The push for expansion was largely driven by China but had the backing of Russia and South Africa. India was concerned a bigger BRICS would transform the group into a mouthpiece for China, while Brazil was worried about alienating the West.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt have not publicly stated their position on potentially joining BRICS, although Riyadh sent a delegation to the meeting, added the Bloomberg report.

Over 20 nations from the Global South had formally requested to join ahead of the summit.