BRICS EXPANSION

Latest Context

Recently. in the BRICS Summit that was hosted by South Africa in Johnsburg, it has been decided to invite Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to become full members of this group. The membership will take effect from 1 January 2024.

Highlights of the Summit

• Six more countries have been added to this group. Now the members of the BRICS are 11. These new members are Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, and Argentina.
• BRICS members are raising their voices of comprehensive reform of the United Nations including the Security Council in order to make it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient.
• Members of the group agreed to address the challenges posed by climate change while also ensuring a just, affordable and sustainable transition to a low-carbon and low-emission economy.
• Geopolitical Context

• The summit will have strategic importance as it follows the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, impacting global stability and security.
• Discussions that took place will be perceived to carry a "counter-western" perspective.
• BRICS deliberations gain importance amidst attempts to "isolate" Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

Significance of Expansion

• Now the impact of this group will be greater because new members will collectively raise their voice for the restructuring of global institutions.
• The addition of new members will uphold and strengthen Multilateralism.
• It will enhance the South-South Cooperation among developing countries.
• The addition of new members will lead to the democratization of the World order.

Challenges

• There is an internal trust deficit among the 5 member states and a lack of a common understanding of standards, criteria, and procedures of expansion.

• The India-China border dispute is an example.

• There is a high divergence between countries regarding their worldview. The dominance of Authoritarian and Autocratic regimes within BRICS.
• Its perception of being an Anti- Western Group would challenge its integration into the World order
• Several economic and political sanctions on present and potential members may cause economic disruptions.

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