BRICS Summit: Bloc Expansion, Members, Agenda, Date; Know Key Details

The BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - a group of major emerging economies to hold its 15th summit in Johannesburg, South Africa this month from August 22-24.

The summit is expected to be attended by Brazil's President Luiz Lula da Silva, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, China's President Xi Jinping and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, the host country.

Due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for suspected war crimes in Ukraine, which Moscow denies, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be present in person. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent Putin in Johannesburg as a virtual participant, as per a report by Reuters on August 18,

67 leaders from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean were also invited to the summit, according to South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor. Other world leaders, and several dignitaries have also been invited to the summit including Business leaders from all across the world.

The key issue to be discussed at the summit are likely to be BRICS expansion by adding new members, including the admission criteria and guiding principles. Discussions of international trade, infrastructure development, and geopolitics are also on the agenda.

The main force behind the expansion is China, which is attempting to increase its geopolitical might at a time when tensions with the United States are high. India is also warming up to the concept, and Russia is adopting it as a means of overcoming its isolation due to the conflict in Ukraine. Brazil has the greatest doubts about expansion, according to a Reuters report on August 18.

More countries want to join the BRICS because of its influence and economic power. 23 nations have submitted formal applications to join the BRICS, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Indonesia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

BRICS represents one-fourth of the global GDP and 40% of the world's population. The group was recognised as a legitimate alternative to Western-led forums like the G7 group of advanced nations.