BRICS Invites Saudi And Others To Join World Bloc
The BRICS group of nations has decided to invite six countries Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to become new members of the bloc, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa said.
Report says the debate over expanding the BRICS bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has topped the agenda at a three-day summit in Johannesburg.
The new candidate members were announced by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is hosting a summit of BRICS leaders.
“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,” he said.
The new candidates will be formally admitted as members on Jan. 1, 2024. Ramaphosa and Brazilian President, Luiz Silva left the door open to the possibility of admitting other new members in the future.
“We have consensus on the first phase of this expansion process and other phases will follow,” Ramaphosa said.
Lula said globalisation’s promises had failed, adding that it was time to revitalise cooperation with developing countries as “there is a risk of nuclear war”, an apparent allusion to growing tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine conflict.
United Arab Emirates’ President, Mohammed bin Zayed, whose country is already a member of the bloc’s New Development Bank, NDB said he appreciated the inclusion of his country as a new member.
“We look forward to a continued commitment of cooperation for the prosperity, dignity, and benefit of all nations and people around the world,” he posted on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
While all BRICS members have publicly expressed support for growing the bloc, there were divisions among the leaders over how much and how quickly.
“This membership expansion is historic,” China’s President, Xi Jinping said in remarks following the announcement on enlargement. “It shows the determination of BRICS countries for unity and cooperation with the broader developing countries.”
More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, say South African officials, and 22 have formally asked to be admitted.
Report says they are attracted by BRICS’ promise to rebalance world bodies dominated by the United States and other wealthy Western states.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said the bloc’s expansion should be an example to other global institutions founded in the 20th century that have become outdated.
“The expansion and modernization of BRICS is a message that all institutions in the world need to mould themselves according to changing times,” he said.
REUTERS/Christopher Ojilere
