SOUTH AFRICA: The BRICS open the door to six new countries

The BRICS are expanding. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, meeting at a summit in Johannesburg, will welcome six new member countries, including Iran, from January, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday.

Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also join the group of emerging countries that want to gain influence in the world. membership will take effect from January 1, 2024, Cyril Ramaphosa told a joint press conference of the leaders of the five nations that currently make up the bloc, welcoming that the BRICS are starting a new chapter.

Immediately after the announcement, Tehran hailed on X (ex-Twitter) a historic development and a strategic success for the country’s foreign policy.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, for his part, hailed a great moment for the African nation. Ethiopia is ready to cooperate with all for an inclusive and prosperous world order, he said on social media. The United Arab Emirates also welcomed their integration, with President Mohammed bin Zayed claiming to “respect the vision of the BRICS leaders.

According to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the talks lead to a historic enlargement, predicting a bright future for the BRICS countries. The expansion of the group was the priority of this 15th summit which ends in the evening. a heavyweight accounting for around 70% of the group’s GDP, Beijing was clearly in favor of expansion. Some forty countries had applied for membership or expressed an interest. a sign of the growing influence of emerging countries on the world stage, according to the « club of five », which produces a quarter of the world’s wealth and brings together 42% of the world’s population.

the leaders of the bloc reaffirmed their « non-aligned » position in Johannesburg, at a time when divisions have been accentuated by the Ukrainian conflict. observers say member countries must balance their proximity to China and Russia with the risk of drifting away from a major trading partner like the United States. Washington said this week that it does not see the Brics as future « geopolitical rivals », claiming to want to maintain « solid relations » with Brazil, India and South Africa

Ike LEONARD