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BRICS Expansion Puts Membership and Reform at New Delhi Summit
BRICS is a group of countries that work together on economic and political issues.
India is hosting its next big meeting in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
The group began with Brazil, Russia, India and China, and South Africa joined later.
It has since added several countries and created a partner-country category.
Other countries, including Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam and Nigeria, are interested in joining or working more closely with the group.
India and some other members want new members to meet clear rules and want to avoid expanding too quickly.
BRICS also wants to make trade easier using local currencies and digital payment systems.
The group plans to push for more influence for developing countries in institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13 as the bloc marks 20 years since its founding ministers’ meeting.
BRICS has grown from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to 11 members, with partner-country arrangements also created.
Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nigeria, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Colombia and Venezuela are among countries reported to be seeking closer ties or membership.
India, Brazil and South Africa favor a criteria-based expansion focused on consolidating recent additions and preserving institutional cohesion.
The summit is expected to discuss local-currency settlements, digital payment links, New Development Bank financing and reforms to global institutions.
- Who
- BRICS member states, India as summit host, and applicant or interested countries including Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nigeria, Colombia and others.
- What
- The 18th BRICS Summit will address expansion, partner-country arrangements, financial cooperation and reforms to global institutions.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- When
- September 12-13; the summit is described as marking 20 years since BRICS’s founding foreign ministers’ meeting in 2006.
- Why
- Members seek greater cooperation among emerging economies, reduced dependence on dollar-based trade and stronger representation in international institutions.
Cautious, criteria-based expansion
Broader and faster expansion
Pace of membership growth
Cautious, criteria-based expansion
India, supported by Brazil and South Africa, favors consolidating the 2024-2025 intake before launching another large wave of full membership.
Broader and faster expansion
Countries seeking membership or partner status are pressing for closer integration, viewing BRICS as a way to diversify trade, financing and diplomatic relationships.
Requirements for new members
Cautious, criteria-based expansion
India’s stated position emphasizes economic transparency, non-alignment, peaceful dispute resolution and preservation of institutional cohesion.
Broader and faster expansion
The reported interest from countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe reflects demand for a broader platform, though the articles do not identify a single unified alternative set of criteria.
Reducing dollar dependence
Cautious, criteria-based expansion
The bloc is described as pursuing practical tools such as local-currency trade and payment-system links rather than attempting to create a common currency, which the article says is logistically unfeasible.
Broader and faster expansion
Supporters of deeper financial integration seek alternative payment channels, digital-currency interoperability and New Development Bank financing to reduce exposure to dollar-based systems and external financial pressure.
Key facts
- Host
- India, holding the BRICS chairship for the fourth time.
- Summit
- The 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi.
- Current scale
- The expanded bloc is described as representing nearly 49% of the world’s population, about 39% of global GDP by purchasing power parity and more than 23% of global trade.
- Recent expansion
- Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates received full memberships in 2024; partner-country arrangements were developed during the Kazan and Rio summits.
- Interested countries
- Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Nigeria, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Colombia and Venezuela are among those reported to be seeking membership or closer affiliation.
- Financial focus
- BRICS is considering local-currency settlements, interoperable central-bank digital currencies, alternative payment messaging and expanded New Development Bank lending.
- Institutional reform
- India plans to advocate reforms involving United Nations Security Council representation, IMF and World Bank voting shares, and the World Trade Organization dispute-settlement system.
Sources
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