Discussions about enlargement have taken center stage at the annual three-day summit of prominent emerging economies held in Johannesburg.
Johannesburg, South Africa – Saudi Arabia and Iran have been announced as two of the six nations set to join BRICS as fresh members in the coming year, as disclosed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. This announcement was made on the concluding day of the summit involving countries that consider themselves a counterbalance to Western powers.
The coalition, comprising China, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, and India – collectively making decisions through consensus – has, during the three-day annual summit in Johannesburg this week, reached an agreement on “the foundational principles, benchmarks, qualifications, and procedures for the BRICS expansion process,” as conveyed by Ramaphosa on Thursday. In the initial phase, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates will become full-fledged BRICS members alongside Saudi Arabia and Iran in January 2024, with further phases to ensue.
Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded this expansion as a momentous occasion. He remarked, “This expansion marks a significant milestone. It also heralds a fresh inception for BRICS cooperation. It will infuse new energy into the BRICS collaborative mechanism and further reinforce the drive for global peace and advancement.”
A senior advisor to Iran’s president celebrated the country’s inclusion in the alliance. On what is now known as X (formerly Twitter), Mohammad Jamshidi wrote, “Attaining permanent membership in the consortium of global emerging economies is a historic development and a strategic triumph for the foreign policy of the Islamic republic.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed echoed this sentiment, labeling it a “momentous occasion” for his nation. Abiy conveyed his enthusiasm for Ethiopia’s participation in shaping an all-encompassing and prosperous worldwide structure, expressing it on Twitter.
The foundational group of the five BRICS nations has deliberated the topic of expansion for over a year, Ramaphosa explained. The invitation to new members was extended this week following an accord reached during the summit.
