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As the group of BRICS member countries is increasing its membership, its global influence is also increasing. But the result of its expansion has been that differences have arisen between its old and new members regarding how this platform should be reformed so that it can be prepared for today’s changed world order.
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The name BRICS is the first letter of the name of the country which are founding members of the organization. Which are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These five members of the organization are an informal grouping of emerging economies hoping to increase their sway in the global order.
BRICS was founded in year 2009 on the premise to create space internationally for developing countries, Where the international institutions were overly dominated by Western powers and had ceased to serve developing countries.
The main purpose to create this bloc to coordinate its member countries in economic and diplomatic policies. To create new financial institutions to reduce the dependence on the U.S. dollar.
BRICS was founded for the purpose to coordinate its member countries in economic and diplomatic policies. But it has been seen that BRICS has struggled with internal divisions on a range of issues.
Meanwhile many of the country want invitation to became the member of this bloc. its growing membership is both expanding its clout and introducing new tensions also.
Although some of the analysts warn that this bloc could be undermine the Western-led international order.
Founding of BRICS
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization, initially composed of 4 countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). And it was known as BRIC. The first informal meeting of BRIC has held in the year 2006. But the first formal summit was held in the 2009.
Now there are eleven members of the BRICS. They are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.
Originally the word BRIC was coined by a British economist named Jim O’Neill. But later championed by his employer Goldman Sachs in 2001 to designate the group of emerging markets.
The first summit of the bloc was held Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 16, 2009 and it was featured by the founding member countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. In their first summit they agreed to adopt the name BRIC of the bloc and also agreed to form an informal diplomatic club. The purpose of the member countries to create a platform where their governments could meet annually at formal summits and coordinate multilateral policies.
How BRIC became BRICS
In April 2010 the 2nd summit of BRIC, South Africa attended as a guest member and showing their intertest to join the bloc. In September 2010 the South Africa joined the organization and became a full member. The bloc name was renamed as “BRICS”.
What is the term BRICS+, or its expanded form BRICS Plus,
The term BRICS+, or its expanded form BRICS Plus, has been informally used to reflect new membership since 2024. Now there are 10 members of the BRICS. Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates attended their first summit as member states in 2024 in Russia.
Indonesia officially joined as a member state in early 2025 and becoming the first Southeast Asian member country.
Nine new countries to join BRICS
During Russian Presidency of BRICS Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Nigeria were announced as ‘partner countries’ of the group as of January 1st, 2025. The adhesion inaugurated the modality created during the Kazan Summit, in October 2024
Expansion of BRICS
In August 2023 it was decided in the 15th Summit of BRICS that the South Africa join the bloc along with the six other countries (Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) in January 2024.
Refused to join BRICS
Argentina is the country which formally declined the invitation to join the bloc, despite being invited to join BRICS. The new president of Argentina Mr. Javier Milei cited that the moment is not opportune.
Fundamentals of BRICS to remember
– BRICS is an intergovernmental organization consisting of ten countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
– The term BRIC was originally coined by a British economist Jim O’Neill.
– In later days the name championed by his employer Goldman Sachs in 2001 to designate the group of emerging markets.
– The first summit BRICS was held in 2009 featured the founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
– The name BRIC was adopted in the first summit and formed an informal diplomatic club.
– In the first summit it was decided that the governments of founding members could meet annually at formal summits and coordinate multilateral policies.
– The South Africa attended the 2nd BRIC summit as a guest In April 2010.
– The South Africa joined the organization in September 2010.
– The name of the BRIC had been changed to BRICS.
– The South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS summit in 2011 as a full member.
– Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates attended their first summit as member states in 2024 in Russia summit.
– The Indonesia officially joined as a member state in early 2025 and become the first Southeast Asian member of the bloc.
– The acronym BRICS+, or its expanded form BRICS Plus, has been informally used to reflect new membership since 2024.
– China has the largest economy in the group, which is accounting at about 70% of the total organization.
– Some in the thinkers of west consider that the BRICS could be an alternative institution of the developing countries, just like G7, the bloc of the world’s leading economies.
– Some others thinkers describe that a group of an incoherent joining of countries around increasing anti-Western and anti-American objective.
– The members of BRICS together has implemented competing initiatives such as the New Development Bank,
the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement, BRICS PAY, the BRICS Joint Statistical Publication and the BRICS basket reserve currency.
– In the first 15 years journey the BRICS has established almost 60 intra-group institutions, and think tanks to dialogues, covering the agenda in 34 subjects.
– All the founding 5 Members including Indonesia are also part of the G20.
– BRICS has received both praise and criticism from numerous commentators and world leaders.
Summits of the BRICS
The group of the members of BRIC countries has held their summits annually since 2009.
Every year a member country host the summit or it can say that every member country has a chance to hold the summit or the turn to hold the summit rotates within the member countries.
The two BRIC summits were held, in year 2009 at Russia and in the year 2010 at Brazil.
The first five-member BRICS summit was held in the year 2011 at China.
The first nine-member BRICS summit was held in the year 2024 at Russia.
The 2020, 2021, and 2022 summits were held via video-conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
List of the BRICS summit held
| No. of the summit | Year | Host Country of the Summit |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2009 | Russia |
| 2nd | 2010 | Brazil |
| 3rd | 2011 | China |
| 4th | 2012 | India |
| 5th | 2013 | South Africa |
| 6th | 2014 | Brazil |
| 7th | 2015 | Russia |
| 8th | 2016 | India |
| 9th | 2017 | China |
| 10th | 2018 | South Africa |
| 11th | 2019 | Brazil |
| 12th | 2020 (video conference) | Russia |
| 13th | 2021 (video conference) | India |
| 14th | 2022 (video conference) | China |
| 15th | 2023 | South Africa |
| 16th | 2024 | Russia |
| 17th | 2025 | Brazil |
List of year wise expansion process of BRICS
| Year of Join BRICS | Name of the Founding members |
| 2009 | Brazil |
| 2009 | Russia |
| 2009 | India |
| 2009 | China |
| 2010 | South Africa |
Year wise list of the Member Countries joined as BRICS Plus members
| Year of Join BRICS+ | Name of BRICS Plus members |
| 2024 | Egypt |
| 2024 | Ethiopia |
| 2024 | Iran |
| 2024 | United Arab Emirates |
| 2025 | Indonesia |
Year wise list of the Member Countries joined as Partner States in BRICS
| Year of Join as Partner States | Name of Partner States |
| 2023 | Belarus |
| 2023 | Bolivia |
| 2023 | Cuba |
| 2024 | Kazakhstan |
| 2024 | Malaysia |
| 2024 | Nigeria |
| 2024 | Thailand |
| 2024 | Uzbekistan |
Countries applied to join of become the member of BRICS
| Year of apply to join of become the member of BRICS | Name of the applied countries | Action taken on the application |
| 2023 | Saudi Arabia | Decision Pending |
| 2024 | Malaysia | Under Consideration |
| 2024 | Azerbaijan | Under Consideration |
| 2024 | Turkey | Under Consideration |
| 2024 | Pakistan | Under Consideration |
| 2024 | Bangladesh | Under Consideration |
| 2024 | Sri Lanka | Under Consideration |
| 2024 | Senegal | Under Consideration |
| 2024 | Myanmar | Under Consideration |
| 2024 | Venezuela | Under Consideration |
Name of the country applied for membership but withdrew the application
| Year of apply | Name of the country |
| 2022 | Algeria |
Name of the country which was Invited but decline the invitation
| Year of invitation | Name of the country |
| 2023 | Argentina |
Objectives of BRICS
BRICS was founded for a common interest to promote and develop trade across countries in the region. It was formed to improve the economic conditions of the member nations and the global socio-economic situation.
Objectives of BRICS for India
– India is one of the founding member country of the bloc.
– India always became an active participant in the organization from its inception.
– The primary goal of India is to maintain economic growth in the country which is beneficial to its citizens in terms of job creation, GDP growth and poverty alleviation and is always in the national interest of the country.
– It has always been India’s endeavor that this platform serves as an alternative global mechanism to promote economic and social development, especially when international institutions and systems are under great strain.
– It has always been India’s endeavor to use this platform to help improve relations with developed and developing countries.
Salient Features of India’s Role in BRICS
India’s Role as a Growth Maker for Other BRICS Countries members –
India is the member country who spent almost 400 Crore Rupees (4 billion US$) in South Africa to develop the Global Executive Development Program which was established to equip the workforce.
India’s Role in South Asian Trade development –
India has taken several encouraging steps to promote and develop trade in South Asian region.
Established an independent BRICS credit rating agency –
India has established an independent BRICS credit rating agency to correlate its ranks with other developing countries including the members countries.
India’s Role as a Responsible Hand –
India is considered as a strong voice of BRICS in the UN, speaking out against policies or actions that may harm the interests of any member countries.
Aim protector of BRICS –
India act as the aim protector of the idea of foundation BRICS and believed that focusing on developing existing members rather than accepting new members otherwise the significance of its founding would suffocate the BRICS as a coalition and follow the path of European Union.
India’s role as the peacekeeper –
India’s role as the peacekeeper in the world specially among the BRICS member countries because India believe that peace is very important to develop trade and human development.
India taking part of UN missions also –
India has always one step ahead in concern to maintain peace in the world. India has dispatched over 1,000 troops to Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan as part of UN missions to suppress internal unrest.
Conclusion
– The name BRICS come from the first letter of the name of their founding member such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
– BRICS is a common identity of the shared and growing economy with a shared future.
– It is expected that BRICS will have a larger share of world GDP and will be able to influence its global governance.
– BRICS countries have an excellent potential for further development.
Frequently Asked Questions
01) When did the term BRIC was used and by whom?
Answer – The term “BRIC” was first used in 2001 by Jim O’Neill, who was a British economist.
02) When did the term “BRIC” was changed to “BRICS” and why?
Answer – The term “BRIC” had been changed to “BRICS” in 2010, when South Africa joined the bloc.
03) When did the first summit of BRICS was held and where?
Answer – The first summit of BRICS had been organized in the year 2009 in Yekaterinburg at Russia
04) What was the main purpose to establish BRICS?
Answer – The main purpose of BRICS was to promote economic growth, development, and cooperation among its member countries.
05) How many times has India hosted the BRICS summit?
Answer – The BRICS summit has hosted in INDIA for 3 times so for yet.
06) When did the BRICS summit hosted in INDIA virtually?
Answer – The 13th BRICS Summit was held under India’s Chairmanship on 09 September 2021.
07) When and where the 17th BRICS summit will be held?
Answer – The 17th BRICS Summit will be held at Brazil from 6th to 7th July 2025.
08) What is the economic influence of BRICS?
BRICS represents roughly 3.3 billion people of the world population. It will be at about over 40% of the global population. If we talk about global gross domestic product based on purchasing power share parity. it estimates at about 37.3%
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