Expansion of BRICS Signals Growing Interest from Global South and East in a Multipolar World Order
In a game-changing geopolitical shift, 30+ countries, including nations from even NATO-member Turkey, have expressed interest in joining the BRICS membership coalition. Russian President Vladimir Putin, during the latest BRICS summit in Kazan, highlighted the expansion of the group as evidence of a growing “multipolar world” that challenges the traditional US-dominated global order.
BRICS, initially formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, welcomed four new members—United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia—in January 2024. This expansion has elevated the group’s global influence, with its nine members now representing 26% of the world’s economy and nearly half (45%) of its population. These figures stand in contrast to the Group of Seven (G7) nations, which account for 44% of the global GDP but only 10% of the world’s population.
Rising Interest in BRICS
The enthusiasm for BRICS membership from over 30 nations, ranging from Thailand to Algeria, underscores the organization’s growing influence in global affairs. Putin remarked that this widespread interest reflects the “aspirations of the main part of the international community, the so-called world majority.” However, there remains debate among existing BRICS members about the wisdom of further expansion.
Putin emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance while acknowledging the unprecedented interest from countries in the Global South and East to strengthen ties with BRICS. “It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest,” Putin told fellow leaders, but also noted that BRICS must preserve equilibrium within its ranks.
A ‘Multipolar World’ and Dollar Decoupling
The growing appeal of BRICS also lies in its potential to foster greater economic independence from the US dollar. Putin has been vocal about reducing reliance on the dollar as a global reserve currency, urging member states to boost trade in national currencies. While many BRICS members support this shift, countries like India, South Africa, and the UAE are cautious and wary of creating an anti-US perception.
BRICS’ expanding influence has been bolstered by its position as a leading economic bloc for the Global South, with Brazil set to host the G-20 summit next month, following India’s presidency last year and South Africa’s turn in 2025.
Diplomatic Maneuvering Amidst Global Sanctions
The BRICS summit marks the largest gathering of world leaders in Russia since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which led to severe sanctions from the US and its G7 allies. Russia’s economic ties with BRICS countries are crucial as Putin seeks to mitigate the impact of sanctions by enhancing cooperation within the bloc.
Despite the controversy surrounding Russia’s actions, the BRICS summit demonstrates that Putin remains a central figure in global geopolitics. This year’s event is a stark contrast to last year’s BRICS summit, where Putin was notably absent due to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Global Implications of BRICS Expansion
As BRICS continues to grow, its role in shaping a multipolar world becomes more evident. The inclusion of countries like the UAE, Iran, and Ethiopia into its ranks indicates a broader coalition of nations aligning themselves outside of Western dominance. However, internal divisions remain, as some members oppose positioning BRICS as an anti-Western or anti-US body.
The future of BRICS, especially with the possibility of further expansion, will be pivotal in determining the global balance of power in the coming decades. With its growing clout, BRICS is poised to play a central role in defining the next chapter of international relations.
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