Bhavika Jain, Pune
On Thursday, six new countries, including Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, were invited to join the bloc that aims to advocate for the interests of the Global South. BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – at a recent three-day summit conducted in Johannesburg discussed and debated over the expansion of the grouping.
Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have been invited to join the grouping as part of the first phase of expansion, according to South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current chair of the BRICS grouping. The new membership will go into effect on January 1, 2024.
Image credits: Reuters
“Through this step, the faith of numerous nations in a multipolar world order will become stronger,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcoming the new phase of expansion in the five-nation grouping.
While India did not resist the BRICS’ expansion, it did suggest a set of rules and procedures that would regulate which nations could enter the bloc. Approximately 20 nations have officially submitted applications to become part of the bloc, which constitutes 25% of the world’s economy and over three billion people.
Prime Minister Modi expressed that BRICS, together with its new members, will bring fresh enthusiasm and vitality to the group’s collaboration. He emphasized India’s strong and long-standing ties with the new BRICS members and highlighted the potential for enhancing bilateral cooperation with them, which will introduce new facets to their relationships.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the expansion of BRICS is a signal to all international institutions, underscoring the need for them to adjust to changing times and alter their rules and regulations. This reference particularly pertains to the longstanding request for an expansion of the UN Security Council, involving an increase in the number of both permanent and non-permanent members.