Which Six Countries Are Set To Join BRICS From January 1, 2024?

The BRICS nations¡ªBrazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa¡ªagreed on Thursday to admit six new countries into the group: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates.

This is being seen as a move aimed at accelerating its push to reshuffle a world order it sees as outdated.

From 4 Nations In 2009 To 11 Nations In 2024

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For the first time in 13 years, BRICS leaders left the door open to future enlargement by deciding in favour of an expansion. And this seems to be just the beginning, as around 40 countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS with the hope of having a level playing field globally.

Did you know that BRICS was originally a four-member group? The acronym BRIC, which did not initially include South Africa and was a four-member group of China,India, Russia, and Brazil, was coined in 2001 by then-Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O'Neill in a research paper that underlined the growth potential of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

BRIC was founded as an informal club in 2009 to provide a platform for its members to challenge a world order dominated by the United States and its Western allies. Brazil, Russia, India, and China are the founding members, whereas South Africa, the smallest member in terms of economic clout and population, was the first beneficiary of an expansion of the forum in 2010, when the grouping became known as BRICS.

And w.e.f. January 1, 2024, the BRICS group will expand from the existing 5 nations to 11 nations when the six new members are added.

From China, Russia To India: How BRICS Members Reacted To The Decision

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The existing member nations of BRICS came forward to congratulate the six new countries that have been given the green signal to become BRICS members from January 1, 2024.

India¡¯s PM Modi tweeted, ¡±On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of BRICS, we have taken the decision to expand this forum. India has always fully supported this expansion. Such an expansion will make BRICS stronger and more effective. In that spirit, India welcomes Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE into the BRICS family.¡±

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of BRICS, we have taken the decision to expand this forum. India has always fully supported this expansion. Such an expansion will make BRICS stronger and more effective.

In that spirit, India welcomes Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran,¡­

¡ª Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2023

"This membership expansion is historic," Chinese President Xi Jinping, the bloc's most stalwart proponent of enlargement, said, as per a Reuters report. "It shows the determination of BRICS countries for unity and cooperation with the broader developing countries."

The six new nations will formally become members on Jan. 1, 2024, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said when he named the countries during a three-day leaders' summit he is hosting in Johannesburg.

"BRICS has embarked on a new chapter in its effort to build a world that is fair, a world that is just, a world that is also inclusive and prosperous," Ramaphosa said. "We have consensus on the first phase of this expansion process and other phases will follow."

"BRICS is not competing with anyone," Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who is attending the summit remotely due to an international warrant for alleged war crimes, said on Thursday.

"But it's also obvious that this process of the emerging of a new world order still has fierce opponents."

Also Read: Why More Than 40 Countries Are Lining Up To Join BRICS

Did BRICS Member Nations Play A Role In Selecting The 6 Countries?

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The countries invited to join reflect the individual existing BRICS members' desires to bring allies into the club, the report mentioned.

For instance, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had vocally lobbied for Argentina's inclusion, while Egypt has close commercial ties with Russia and India.

Whereas the entry of oil powers Saudi Arabia and the UAE highlights their drift away from the United States' orbit and ambition to become global heavyweights in their own right.

Russia and Iran have found common cause in their shared struggle against U.S.-led sanctions and diplomatic isolation, with their economic ties deepening in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Beijing is close to Ethiopia, and the country's inclusion also speaks to South Africa's desire to amplify Africa's voice in global affairs.

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