The recent admission of new members to BRICS has captured the attention of political analysts and global leaders, as the organisation now represents 37.3% of global GDP. Composed exclusively of emerging economies with a non- Western perspective, the intergovernmental organisation was initiated by Russia and initially composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, with South Africa joining in 2010. On 1 January 2024, four new members were admitted, significantly increasing the group’s economic power and potential to shape the global order, as many countries are using the group as a way to advance their objectives independently of the dominance of other major powers.
For Russia, BRICS has served as a key platform to avoid diplomatic isolation, particularly following its invasion of Crimea in 2014 and during the ongoing war with Ukraine. The group’s key principle is mutual development, relying on its own financial institution, the New Development Bank, to uphold this principle. This institution supports development programmes backed by an initial authorised capital of USD 100 billion per year. In this sense, the cooperative policies within the group are a way for Russia to sustain its diplomatic and economic exchanges despite Western attempts at isolation. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the last BRICS Summit of World Leaders in October 2024, attended by leaders of 32 countries, officials of regional organisations, and United Nations (UN) representatives, showing the world Russia’s continued integration and active dialogue with many actors.
According to the BRICS Membership Expansion Guiding Principles, the new members should be committed to diplomatic and friendly relations with all existing BRICS member states and should refrain from imposing sanctions on existing members that were not authorised by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This means that all members are only allowed to apply sanctions authorised by the UNSC. However, even if they applied sanctions authorised by the UNSC, this would conflict with the group’s principle of diplomatic and friendly relations with all members, making such measures unlikely. The latest expansion, effective from 1 January 2024, introduced Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as new members, expanding BRICS to BRICS+.
The admission of those countries has further reinforced the group’s non-Western identity, leading some newspapers to characterise it as anti-West. However, Putin has explicitly described the group as “non-West” instead of “anti-West”. While some member states have disputes or open conflicts with Western countries, BRICS+ aims to reinforce multilateralism within the group in a pragmatic way that respects international norms, Western multilateral resolutions, and treaties.
This is evidenced by the reference to UNSC Resolutions in the expansion guidelines, which demonstrates the group’s acknowledgement of and alignment with global standards and the UN, providing an exception to the no sanctions principle within the group. Furthermore, BRICS+ has shown a willingness to collaborate with and include representatives of other international organisations at its summits, highlighting a commitment to respectful coexistence and global engagement. This was exemplified by the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the Kazan Summit 2024.
The BRICS members have also expressed a clear goal to increase their participation in international organisations, including efforts to secure a permanent seat on the UNSC. The 2023 Johannesburg II Declaration underlines the group’s strategy to coordinate their voting patterns in global fora, reinforcing their commitment to common goals and security. This alignment was evident in their identical votes on key issues, such as abstaining from votes on Ukraine’s territorial integrity concerning the annexation of Crimea, sanctions in the context of climate change negotiations, and policies addressing Iran and Syria.
THE EXPANSION PROJECTS ALLOW THE GROUP TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ITS IDENTITY, AS NEW MEMBERS MEAN THAT BRICS WILL BE REPRESENTING AND HELPING OTHER ECONOMIES IN DEVELOPMENT.
Decision-making within BRICS is based on consensus and full consultation of its members, which reinforces the priority of multilateral collaboration rather than the individual interests and conflicts of each member state. This framework also makes the group more selective in admitting new members, as any decision requires the agreement of all current members. At present, there are officially 30 applications for membership, and expansion remains a key priority under the Brazilian presidency in 2025. The expansion projects allow the group to further strengthen its identity, as new members mean that BRICS will be representing and helping other economies in development. From an economic perspective, an expansion also increases the economic power of the New Development Bank and the amount of resources within the group.
BRICS has positively impacted many of its members, including Brazil. According to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazilian exports to BRICS countries are now twelve times larger than they were in 2003, and BRICS now accounts for almost one-third of Brazilian imports. The cooperation within the group has facilitated multilateral initiatives, including infrastructure projects and enhanced trade among its members. In June 2024, the New Development Bank exemplified this support by allocating USD 1.115 billion to assist Brazil in addressing the flooding crisis in Rio Grande do Sul.
The BRICS group cannot pass unnoticed by analysts and global leaders due to its growing influence as a political group. In this sense, the increasing number of BRICS members also increases the leverage of countries such as Russia and China. Beyond that, there are discussions underway about replacing the dollar with an alternative currency for trade within the group, and the New Development Bank has pledged to provide financing in national currencies.
BRICS not only amplifies each country’s capacity but also serves as a safeguard against diplomatic isolation or economic sanctions. By bringing developing countries together as protagonists of their economic future, BRICS allows them to gradually reduce their dependence on the decisions and resources of third countries. As the group expands and its prominence increases, it becomes an essential piece on the global geopolitical chessboard, due to its political character, its substantial contribution to global GDP, and its significant share of the world’s crude oil and gas production. However, it must be noted that the success and impact of BRICS+ will depend on the group’s ability to overcome the differences between its members, a challenge that becomes more complex as the group expands with diverse states. For it to function effectively, clear and well-defined goals are crucial, ensuring that each country advances in its agenda with the group’s support, e.g., through economic instruments such as the New Development Bank. Coordination and dialogue are essential for reaching consensus and developing pragmatic projects that benefit all members.
