BRICS and Its New Members Need Time Before Next Expansion Wave, Moscow Says
All of the newly invited countries have reaffirmed their desire to join BRICS, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said at a press conference after the organization’s 15th annual summit which was held on Aug. 22-24 in South Africa.
Main Breakdowns:
- Newly invited countries confirmed their willingness to join BRICS
- BRICS agreed to admit six more nations as members
- An updated list of candidates will be prepared for the next annual summit
- A pause is needed for new member states to adapt
- Time is needed for adaptation and exchanging best practices
Ryabkov noted it’s too early to talk about further enlargement as a pause is needed to allow the bloc’s new member states to adapt. “I wouldn’t take it upon myself to name any potential next-wave candidates. To begin with, the current first ‘installment’ consists of six countries, which is more than the ‘founding five.’”
“We need to see how this ‘football team,’ to borrow the expression from [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov, will perform directly on the field of play, how coordinated it is. Time is needed for adaptation and exchanging best practices,” the senior Russian diplomat added. “The main thing is that there is a political will, a firm intention to move ahead,” he pointed out.
Hot Take:
BRICS is taking a cautious approach to its expansion, allowing new members time to adapt before considering further enlargement. The organization has received positive responses from the newly invited countries, confirming their willingness to join. An updated list of candidates will be prepared for the next annual summit in Russia. Time will be given for the new members to exchange best practices and demonstrate their coordination. As the bloc expands, the focus remains on the political will and intention to move forward.
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