BRICS has started 2025 with a significant expansion, incorporating nine new partner nations into its framework.
After adding four new members in 2024, the group announced on January 1, 2025, the inclusion of nine partner countries, further strengthening its position as a global economic and geopolitical force.
Who are the new partners?
At the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, 13 nations were invited to join the bloc as partners. Partner status allows countries to align with BRICS and contribute to its projects, although they lack voting rights or influence over final decisions, according to Economy Middle East.
Nine of the invited nations accepted the offer: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The other four—Algeria, Nigeria, Turkey, and Vietnam—are yet to respond.
Recent BRICS Membership Expansion
In early 2024, BRICS welcomed four new members—Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
These nations were among six offered membership during the Johannesburg Summit in August 2023. While Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE joined, Argentina and Saudi Arabia did not proceed.
Argentina initially accepted the invitation but reversed its decision following a government change in December 2023. Saudi Arabia had not confirmed its stance by the end of 2024.
The Evolution of BRICS
Originally formed in 2009 as BRIC with Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the group expanded to include South Africa in 2010, becoming BRICS.
Now comprising nine full members and nine partner nations, BRICS represents nearly half of the global population.
According to Geopolitical Economy, the bloc accounts for over 41% of global GDP and dominates the production of essential commodities such as oil, gas, grains, meat, and minerals, cementing its status as an economic powerhouse.
