As the 15th installment of the BRICS summit approaches, the alliance is poised to broaden its membership, particularly with the inclusion of various African nations.
Comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the BRICS collectively account for 31.5% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, surpassing the G7’s 30.7%. As such, they are widely recognized as the primary emerging powers of the present moment.
The proposal of a BRICS+ arrangement has sparked worries among the member nations regarding the potential weakening of their influence, specifically regarding China’s allies. This is due to China’s GDP being twice that of the combined GDP of the other four BRICS countries, which leads to concerns about Beijing’s potential dominance within the group.
Anil Sookal, the South African ambassador to the BRICS confirmed on April 24, during an interview, that thirteen countries had officially submitted applications to join the group of emerging economies.