- Summary
- Bloc adds Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and UAE
- Expansion could lend global clout to BRICS
- Group leaves door open to further expansion
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) – The BRICS bloc of developing nations agreed on Thursday to admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates in a move aimed at accelerating its push to reshuffle a world order it sees as outdated.
In deciding in favour of an expansion – the bloc’s first in 13 years – BRICS leaders left the door open to future enlargement as dozens more countries voiced interest in joining a grouping they hope can level the global playing field.
The expansion adds economic heft to BRICS, whose current members are China, the world’s second largest economy, as well as Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa. It could also amplify its declared ambition to become a champion of the Global South.
But long-standing tensions could linger between members who want to forge the grouping into a counterweight to the West – notably China, Russia and now Iran – and those that continue to nurture close ties to the United States and Europe.
“This membership expansion is historic,” Chinese President Xi Jinping, the bloc’s most stalwart proponent of enlargement, said. “It shows the determination of BRICS countries for unity and cooperation with the broader developing countries.”
This is a consequence of the NATO-neocon massacre of Ukraine and wanton provocation of Russia. Most of the world sees it for what it is and is disgusted by it. The sanctions on Russia failed, hurting only Europe and the West. Our American elitists have proved once again that they suck at everything but their own self-aggrandizement, and even that may backfire on them. ABN
American Buddhist Net 