The Recent and Rapid Growth
The BRICS bloc, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has undergone a significant transformation. On January 1, 2024, it welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full members. Indonesia officially
joined in early 2025, bringing the total number of full members to eleven, including Saudi Arabia whose official status remains a subject of some inconsistency in reporting. This expansion has amplified the group's economic and demographic heft, now representing nearly half the world's population. The growth spurt has fueled intense interest from other nations, with over 30 countries having formally applied or expressed a desire to join, turning BRICS into a major magnet for the Global South.
The Driving Forces: A Counterweight to the West?
The primary push for expansion has been championed by China and Russia. For both nations, a larger BRICS serves as a vehicle to build a multipolar world order and create a counterweight to Western-led institutions like the G7. They view the addition of new members as a way to increase the bloc's geopolitical influence and consolidate an alliance of nations that feel the current global financial and political systems are outdated and dominated by US interests. This ambition is a key reason why countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America are drawn to the group, seeing it as a platform to amplify their voices and pursue development outside of Western-imposed conditions.
The Great Divide: Members' Conflicting Visions
Despite the momentum, there is no unified vision for expansion within BRICS. India and Brazil, in particular, have historically been more cautious. Their primary concern is that rapid, unchecked growth could dilute their own influence within the bloc and allow it to be dominated by China's strategic interests. India has consistently argued for a gradual, criteria-based approach to adding new members. While not opposed to expansion, New Delhi wants to ensure that the group remains a partnership of equals and does not morph into an explicitly anti-Western alliance, which could compromise its own policy of strategic autonomy and its relationships with the United States and Europe.
The Rules of Entry: Defining the 'How'
The key to bridging this internal divide lies in establishing clear criteria for membership, a point heavily stressed by India. While there is no formal, rigid application process, consensus among all existing members is required for any new country to join. Following the 2023 summit, some general principles were outlined, including a commitment to multilateralism, support for reforming the UN, and respect for international law. However, these guidelines remain flexible. To manage the high demand, the bloc introduced a 'Partner Country' category in 2024, creating a formal tier for engagement without full membership. This allows countries like Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam to participate in BRICS activities, acting as a potential on-ramp to future membership.
What This Means for India and the World
The ongoing debate over expansion will define the identity of BRICS for the next decade. For India, which is chairing the bloc and hosting the summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, the challenge is to steer the group towards its preferred agenda of practical cooperation on issues like sustainable development, trade, and digital innovation. A larger, more diverse BRICS could strengthen the voice of the Global South, but it also risks making consensus harder to achieve, especially on sensitive geopolitical issues. How the bloc balances its members' competing interests—particularly the rivalry between India and China—will determine whether it evolves into a cohesive force for a new world order or becomes a fractured forum of countries with divergent goals.
