BRICS expands: Egypt and 4 more countries to join as of January 1

The BRICS group is doubling its membership on January 1, as the Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Ethiopia will join the alliance, as confirmed by South Africa’s representative to the bloc, according to a Bloomberg report.

The current members of the alliance, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, extended an invitation in August to six new countries to join the group. Among the invited states, only Argentina chose not to join.

This month, delegates from the Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Ethiopia participated in a BRICS sherpa meeting in Durban, South Africa. Their attendance suggests that these five countries have agreed to join the alliance, as reported by Anil Sooklal, Pretoria’s envoy to the group.

The five countries will also have their representatives at another sherpa meeting in Moscow on January 30.

Last August, the UAE declared its successful application and subsequent membership in the group. The country stated that its decision to join underscores its eagerness to “champion the value of multilateralism.”

“This development forms part of the UAE’s commitment to promoting constructive dialogue through active platforms that represent developing and emerging economies,” stated Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“The UAE has consistently championed the value of multilateralism in supporting peace, security, and development globally,” he added.