India and Brazil are pushing back against China’s attempt to expand the BRICS bloc of developing economies, which currently includes Russia and South Africa. The discussions on the future composition of BRICS have raised concerns in the West about it becoming a counterweight to the US and EU. India and Brazil want to discuss granting observer status to candidates without formally expanding BRICS. South Africa supports considering different membership options but doesn’t necessarily oppose expansion. Russia is in favor of expansion but without huge enthusiasm. Any decision at the upcoming summit will require consensus among the current member states. India has drafted rules for admission, and Brazil is proposing to establish “observer” and “partner country” categories for candidates.
