Iran, Saudi Arabia among six new additions to Brics

Leaders of Brics countries on Thursday invited six more nations to join them in the grouping’s first expansion since 2010.

- Shashank Mattoo

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates will join existing members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at a briefing. The six countries are expected to become members starting 1 January.

“Through this step, the faith of numerous nations in a multipolar world order will become stronger," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcoming the expansion of the organization. “As I said yesterday, India has always fully supported the expansion of the membership of Brics," Modi said at a press briefing with other Brics leaders.

Brics began as a group of four countries—Brazil, Russia, India and China—in the mid-2000s. In 2009, Brics nations held their first leaders’ summit in Russia. The organization was expanded to include South Africa in 2010.