BRICS integrates six new members into its group

The family is growing. The BRICS developing countries bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) announced on Thursday a “historic” expansion of its group.

Iran, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will join the BRICS currently meeting at the Johannesburg summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced. About forty countries of the world expressed their desire to join the group of developing countries.

The news was welcomed in Beijing, as well as in Tehran and Cairo. “The role and importance of the BRICS countries in the world continues to grow,” said Vladimir Putin, who was absent from the meeting due to an international arrest warrant for war crimes in Ukraine. “Ethiopia is ready to work with everyone for an inclusive and prosperous world order,” said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Get closer to Beijing and Moscow without offending Washington

Even UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez, believing that “we are moving towards a multipolar world”, called for the reform of “obsolete” multilateral institutions, which, in his words, should take into account “the economic realities of today.”

Observers say new members of the bloc will have to balance between greater proximity to Russia and China and the risk of falling out with the United States, a major trading partner. “BRICS will continue to open up to new members” and “be the driving force behind the new international order,” Brazilian President Lula warned.