What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: On January 1, 2024, BRICS welcomed five new nations into its fold, namely Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia. Despite receiving an invitation in August of the previous year, Argentina opted not to join BRICS. With these additions, BRICS has expanded to a 10-member bloc now.
Further expansion is anticipated at the 16th summit in Russia’s Kazan region. The upcoming BRICS summit in October is expected to see additional countries joining, as confirmed by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who stated that 30 new countries have expressed interest in becoming part of the alliance.
At a press conference on Monday, Putin said that should the bloc endorse the applications of all 30 nations, BRICS might transform into a coalition of 40 members. This expansion would confer greater financial prowess and GDP, potentially positioning it as a formidable competitor to the US dollar and other Western alliances.
“Of course, we will consider the degree to which many other countries, about 30 of them, are prepared to join the BRICS multi-dimensional agenda in one form or another. To this end, we will start working on the modalities of a new category of BRICS partner country,” Putin was quoted as saying by ‘Watcher Guru’.
However, the Russian President refrained from disclosing the specific names of the 30 countries prepared to join BRICS in 2024. Interestingly, Pakistan announced in November 2023 that it has officially applied for BRICS membership, as the organisation increasingly establishes itself as the primary bloc of the Global South.
Describing BRICS as a crucial assembly of developing nations, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, revealed that the country has submitted a “formal request” to become a member.
“We believe that by joining BRICS, Pakistan can play an important role in furthering international cooperation and revitalising inclusive multilateralism. We also hope that BRICS will move forward on Pakistan’s request in line with its commitment to inclusive multilateralism,” Baloch said, while addressing a news briefing in Islamabad, adding that the country has warm ties with “most” BRICS members.
