BRICS, an intergovernmental economic-political organization, comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. Originally it was constituted to assist in the identification and highlighting of investment opportunities. The grouping has eventually evolved into an actual geopolitical bloc, with their governments meeting annually aimed at coordinating multilateral policies through formal Summits since 2009. Currently, bilateral relations among BRICS are conducted mainly based on non-interference, equality, and mutual benefit.
It may be recalled that the founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China held the first Summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009, with South Africa joining the bloc a year later. Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the organization on 1 January 2024. Saudi Arabia has not joined officially as yet, but participates in the Organization’s activities as an invited nation.
One needs to understand the importance of this Group through some statistics. Combined, the BRICS members encompass about 30% of the world's land surface and 45% of the global population. South Africa has the largest economy in Africa whereas Brazil, Russia, India, and China are among the world's ten largest countries by population, area, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also through purchasing power parity (PPP). All five initial member states are also Members of the G20, with a combined nominal GDP of US Dollar 28 trillion which amounts to about 27% of the Gross World Product, and a total GDP (PPP) of around US Dollar 57 trillion (33% of global GDP PPP), and an estimated US Dollar 4.5 trillion in combined foreign reserves (as of 2018).
The BRICS countries are considered as the foremost geopolitical rival to the G7 Bloc comprising the leading advanced economies, implementing competing initiatives such as the New Development Bank, the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement. These data have originated from the BRICS Joint Statistical Publication. All these details have led to BRICS receiving both praise and criticism from numerous commentators.
I am referring to the geo-political denotations of BRICS in this article to draw attention to the fact that the next BRICS Summit is scheduled to take place in Kazan, Russia, October 22 to 24. Significantly, during its BRICS Presidency this year, Russia has said it will focus on "promoting the entire range of partnership and cooperation within the framework of the association on three key tracks – politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties. All of these have particular connotations.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia on September 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed skepticism but was straight to the point about the strategic expansion of BRICS, of which Russia has been President since January 2024.
Kester Kenn Klomegah an analyst who focuses on current geopolitical changes, has carefully monitored what the Russian Foreign Minister had to comment about BRICS and the horizon which is being focused Western hegemony in international geo-politics. Tracking down the history, operations and achievements, Lavrov acknowledged in his interview that the BRICS association is consolidating its positions and cooperating with several countries.
The BRICS countries are considered as the foremost geopolitical
rival to the G7 Bloc comprising the leading advanced economies,
implementing competing initiatives such as the New Development
Bank, the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement
At the same time, this Group is facing certain challenges. It is necessary to promote collaboration based on a balance of interests, and most importantly, ensure that BRICS functions based on consensus in the future.
Geo-strategists however believe that the consensus principle will primarily aim to find agreements that reflect the mutual accord of all participants. That, in the current scenario, will not be easy. The more the Partners, the harder it will be to reach an accord. In this context, we should not forget that it takes more time to finalize any consensus-based agreement than a vote-based solution.
According to Lavrov, BRICS needs a solid foundation for developing a strategic partnership within the association. Currently, BRICS comprises 10 countries- their number having doubled compared to last year. More than 30 countries have apparently also already submitted applications for interaction or membership in the Association.
Consequently, at the Summit to be held in Kazan in October, one of the main items on the Agenda will be the consideration of applications from States that wish to interact and partner with BRICS.
BRICS expansion had sparked debates and discussions for the last few years. This difference of opinion continued till Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were finally accepted on the condition of “consensus” by BRICS members during the South African summit in August 2023.
Lavrov has already indicated and repeatedly explained the “suspension” of membership into BRICS+. Instead of membership, Lavrov has also observed that potential countries can only be accepted as a “partner group” with simple consideration to support and interact with the BRICS association.
The prescription is very simple – BRICS is an association based on a respectful attitude towards each other and on mutual consideration to promote collaboration based not only on a balance of interests but also strict adherence to the principle of the sovereign equality of states and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs.
According to information monitored, more than 30 countries, with growing discontent against Western hegemony, have confidentially expressed their readiness to join BRICS. Lavrov has also confirmed this figure in his interview with Sky News Arabia, and even earlier explained that “the modalities of ascension have to be collectively discussed” at subsequent Summits in future.
At South Africa’s 15th Summit held under President Cyril Ramaphosa, several countries had expressed interest in ascending the BRICS association, but only five finally joined. The official documents, as stipulated by the guidelines, set no concrete criteria or rules for admission except using the flexible term “consensus” – a general agreement at the Summit which was utilized in the selection process. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin have now described this designated circle of BRICS+ friends as “partner members” which has frankly been reflected in official documents.
At the Primakov Readings held in June 2024, the extraordinary key point was an announcement by Sergey Lavrov over ‘suspension’ of BRICS new membership. In mid-June 2024, Lavrov hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers Council in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod. The BRICS Foreign Ministers decided to suspend admission of new members and this decision was reflected in the final documents.
Local and foreign media subsequently reported Lavrov’s statement: “By the overwhelming majority, the ten members decided to ‘take a pause’ with new members, to ‘take in’ the new members who have doubled the association. At the same time, we are working on categories of partner countries as stages ahead of a full-fledged membership.” This denoted different dimensions in the scenario.
Lavrov said BRICS apparently aims to use the pause to draw up a list of categories for BRICS partner countries that would serve as stepping stones toward full membership. Understandably, BRICS+ has decided to “take a pause’ in terms of admitting new Members. The partner-country model will be in line with paragraph 92 of the Johannesburg II Declaration.
In a media release after June 10-11, BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting, noted prospects for promoting strategic partnership within BRICS, including the establishment of a new category of “partner countries” and suspension of new members from the Global South and Global East entered the horizon. As per the agreements reached at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in 2023, the Ministers reviewed the efforts to coordinate the modalities of the new category- BRICS Partner Countries.
Within the stipulated guidelines, Russia took over the BRICS one-year-long presidency on January 1, 2024.
It may be recalled that the initial four BRICs -(Brazil, Russia, India, and China- met in New York City in September 2006 at the margins of the UN General Assembly, but held its first full-scale meeting in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on 16 June 2009.
BRICS has experienced two phases of expansion. In 2011, South Africa joined the association, which included Brazil, Russia, India, and China. On January 1, 2024, five new members also officially entered the BRICS association - Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
(Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador, is an analyst
specialized in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance, can be reached at <muhammadzamir0@gmail.com>)
