BRICS Nations Heads Convene at Rio de Janeiro Summit - BRICS representatives gather in Rio de Janeiro for a meeting
The BRICS group, a collective of eleven nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is gathering in Rio de Janeiro for its annual summit. This year's event marks a significant expansion of the alliance, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joining the group in 2024.
The expansion of the BRICS group was driven by its ambition to strengthen its role as a counterweight to Western-dominated economic and political systems. Russia played a key role in pushing for this broader coalition, aiming to institutionalize cooperation among emerging economies and enhance the influence of the Global South in global governance.
The new members, representing important regional players from Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, have broadened BRICS' geographic reach and economic weight. This shift signifies a significant change in the global economic power dynamics, with the expanded BRICS countries contributing nearly half of the world's population and over 50% of global economic growth.
Notably, Saudi Arabia joined the BRICS group, but delayed its official joining with no detailed explanation as of mid-2025. The expansion also led to the introduction of a "partner countries" status for nations not yet full members but involved in BRICS activities.
This year's BRICS summit is taking place amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions, with the US President, Donald Trump, not invited to the event. The BRICS group, established to counterbalance the influence of Western powers, aims to promote cooperation and solidarity among its member states.
Ukraine is not a member of the BRICS group, which now includes countries from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The BRICS alliance was established with the aim to reduce the geopolitical dominance of the US and Europe, and to create a multipolar world order.
As the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro commences, the expanded alliance is poised to shape the global political and economic landscape in the years to come.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brics-summit-idUSKBN25E2IE [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-55162190 [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/10/egypt-ethiopia-indonesia-iran-saudi-arabia-and-uae-join-brics [4] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brics-summit-idUSKBN25E2IE [5] https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/01/brics-summit-2024-what-to-know-about-the-expanded-alliance.html
- The expansion of the BRICS group, comprising nations from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, not only broadens its geographic reach and economic weight but also positions it as a potential counterweight to the Western-dominated political and economic systems, aligning with its initial aim of reducing geopolitical dominance by the US and Europe and creating a multipolar world order.
- In line with the European Union's external action programme, the Commission has also adopted a communication on the implementation of the European Union's external action programme in the field of research and technological development, reaffirming the importance of collaboration and cooperation among emerging economies, a key aspect underscored by the enlarged BRICS alliance.
