The term BRICS has evolved from a simple investment acronym into a formidable geopolitical bloc that represents the “Global Majority.” As of 2025, the group has moved past its original five-member structure to include a diverse array of nations across the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
1. Formation and Early Concept (2001–2009)
The story of BRICS began not in a government hall, but in a financial report.
- The Acronym (2001): Jim O’Neill, then Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs, coined the term “BRIC” (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). He argued that these four emerging economies would collectively dominate the global economy by 2050.
- Political Mobilisation (2006): What started as an analytical category became a political reality in 2006 when the foreign ministers of the four countries met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
- The First Summit (2009): The group held its first formal Head-of-State summit on June 16, 2009, in Yekaterinburg, Russia. This meeting established the group as a formal diplomatic bloc aimed at reforming international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
2. The Addition of South Africa (2010)
In December 2010, the group underwent its first expansion.
- South Africa was invited to join to give the bloc a stronger voice in the African continent.
- The acronym officially changed from BRIC to BRICS.
- South Africa attended its first summit as a full member in Sanya, China (2011).
3. The “Big Bang” Expansion (2024–2025)
After over a decade of stability, the 15th Summit in Johannesburg (2023) signalled a historic shift toward a much larger “BRICS+” format.
| Joining Date | New Member States | Notes |
| January 1, 2024 | Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE) | Officially joined following the 2023 invitation. |
| January 6, 2025 | Indonesia | Joined as the 10th member, representing Southeast Asia. |
| Pending/Delayed | Saudi Arabia | Invited in 2023; as of mid-2025, it continues to engage with the bloc but has maintained a “pending” status regarding formal accession. |
Note on Argentina: Argentina was originally invited to join in 2024, but the invitation was declined by the administration of President Javier Milei following a shift in foreign policy.
4. The “Partner Country” Status
At the 16th Summit in Kazan, Russia (October 2024), the group introduced a new tier of engagement: Partner Countries. This allows nations to participate in BRICS initiatives without full membership.
As of early 2025, several countries have been recognised as partners or have formally applied, including:
- Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Eurasia: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
- Africa/Americas: Nigeria, Uganda, Bolivia, Cuba.
5. Why Countries Are Joining
The rapid expansion of BRICS in 2024 and 2025 is driven by several strategic goals:
- Economic Alternatives: Access to the New Development Bank (NDB), which provides infrastructure funding without the strict conditions often associated with Western loans.
- De-dollarisation: A shared interest in conducting trade in local currencies to reduce dependency on the U.S. Dollar.
- Geopolitical Voice: Strengthening the “Global South” to create a more multipolar world order and balance Western influence (G7).
