A senior South African diplomat stated that BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is open to dialogue with countries striving for a more inclusive and equitable global order. More than 40 countries have shown interest in joining BRICS, with 22 formally applying and an equal number informally inquiring about membership. The group, which represents over 40% of the global population and nearly a quarter of the world’s GDP, does not distinguish between the Global North and Global South and welcomes any nation sharing their vision for a more inclusive world.
The diplomat emphasized that BRICS seeks to remedy the lack of representation for emerging countries in the United Nations by providing a platform for their voices. However, BRICS does not aim to become a dominant economic force but wishes to have a significant influence in an inclusive manner. The bloc aims to avoid a world with a few global hegemons, which could lead to division in the global community.
Countries like Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have expressed interest in joining BRICS. South Africa will host the BRICS annual summit in Johannesburg from August 22-24, and President Cyril Ramaphosa has invited nearly 70 global leaders to participate.