Saudi Arabia and Iran are among the six countries joining BRICS as new members in 2024. This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday, the final day of a summit by the group in Johannesburg. The six new member countries have already expressed an interest in joining BRICS.
The group considers itself a counterweight to Western powers.
BRICS is a diverse group of nations.
It is an equal partnership of countries that have differing views but a shared vision for a better world.
As the five #BRICS members, we have reached agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of the #BRICS…
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) August 24, 2023
Ramaphosa confirmed that the new members will join the group from the first of January 2024. This, according to Ramaphosa, is the “first phase of the expansion process” reports Financial Times.
“We value the interest of other countries in building a partnership with BRICS” said Ramaphosa. He adds that the group is also interested in expansion once the core countries agree on the criteria for membership.
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The BRICS bloc is currently made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Who are the six new BRICS nations?
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest crude oil exporter outside the US and is among the first Middle Eastern members to join the BRICS bloc. Iran has also been invited to join the group along the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the new BRICS members via a video message. He added that the group’s influence would continue to expand. “I would like to congratulate the new members who will work in a full-scale format next year,” Putin said according to CNN.
#Ethiopia’s bid to join the BRICS family endorsed this morning during the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Congratulations to all Ethiopians! #PMOEthiopia pic.twitter.com/5zdiv4UiIt
— Office of the Prime Minister – Ethiopia (@PMEthiopia) August 24, 2023
This is the first expansion of the BRICS bloc since South Africa joined in 2010.
RELATED: BRICS: Six new countries join the bloc
United Arab Emirates’ President Mohammed bin Zayed, said he appreciated the inclusion of his country into the group.
نقدر موافقة قادة مجموعة “بريكس” على ضم دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة إلى هذه المجموعة المهمة. ونتطلع إلى العمل معًا من أجل رخاء ومنفعة جميع دول وشعوب العالم.
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) August 24, 2023
“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 to X.
Over 40 countries expressed interest in joining BRICS, and 23 formally applied to join the bloc.
During its summit in Johannesburg, some 50 other heads of state attended. The BRICS summit concludes today.
