The BRICS economic bloc has invited six countries to become new members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The BRICS leaders wrapped up their 15th annual summit on Thursday. “We have reached agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria, and procedures of the BRICS expansion process,” said South Africa’s president.
BRICS to Become 11-Nation Bloc
On Thursday, the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) wrapped up their 15th annual summit in Johannesburg and released their “Johannesburg II Declaration.” Russia will assume the 2024 BRICS Chairship and host the XVI BRICS Summit in the city of Kazan.
The economic bloc has decided to invite six countries to become new members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). South Africa, the chair of the BRICS summit this year, previously stated that 23 countries have formally applied for membership. The BRICS declaration states:
We have decided to invite the Argentine Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to become full members of BRICS from 1 January 2024.
“We have also tasked our foreign ministers to further develop the BRICS partner country model and a list of prospective partner countries and report by the next summit,” the declaration further details.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa posted on the X social media platform at the conclusion of the BRICS summit: “BRICS is a diverse group of nations. It is an equal partnership of countries that have differing views but a shared vision for a better world.” He emphasized:
As the five BRICS members, we have reached agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of the BRICS expansion process. We have consensus on the first phase of this expansion process.
Earlier, China’s President Xi Jinping stated at the summit: “We will forge stronger BRICS strategic partnership, expand the ‘BRICS Plus’ model, actively advance membership expansion, deepen solidarity and cooperation with other [emerging markets and developing countries], promote global multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations, and help make the international order more just and equitable.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the summit that “the irreversible process of de-dollarization is gaining steam.”
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