In a momentous development, the 15th BRICS summit, presently convened in Johannesburg, witnessed the formal inclusion of six new member countries into the consortium of emerging economies. The announcement was made by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, marking a historic day for the continent and the global political landscape.
The BRICS alliance, previously composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, gathered its leaders for a press conference at the Johannesburg conference center to conclude their deliberations after an intensive three-day summit. President Ramaphosa delivered the groundbreaking news, disclosing that six nations, two of which are from the African continent, had been admitted into the erstwhile exclusive club. Egypt and Ethiopia from Africa join Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to reshape the dynamics of this international coalition. Ramaphosa expressed his enthusiasm, noting, “With this summit, BRICS embarks upon a new chapter.”
The new members are slated to officially join the alliance on January 1st, 2024, as President Ramaphosa meticulously highlighted.
The BRICS bloc, in light of its expansion and broader representation, will inevitably seek a new nomenclature. This expansion necessitated a unanimous consensus on entry criteria and candidate selection, underscoring the significance of this historic decision.
This momentous resolution is poised to introduce a transformative dynamic within the group, characterized by diverse economies and political affinities among member nations.
The inclusion of these new members elicited fervent responses from across the globe. Former Brazilian President Lula hailed the decision as a “great pleasure,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi interpreted it as evidence of a reinforced “multipolar” world. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping of China conveyed their congratulatory messages to the incoming members.
The Iranian diplomatic circles celebrated the nation’s accession as a “strategic success for foreign policy,” an opinion echoed by President Ebrahim Raïssi’s political advisor on a prominent social media platform. Ethiopia, on the other hand, deemed this juncture as a “defining moment” for the second-most populous country in Africa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized Ethiopia’s readiness to collaborate with all entities for an inclusive and prosperous global order.
As the BRICS consortium undertakes this historic expansion, the world watches with anticipation as these diverse nations embark on a new era of collaboration and shared growth on the global stage.