First, What Is BRICS?
BRICS is a grouping of major emerging economies. The acronym originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, which held their first summit in 2009. South Africa joined in 2011, adding the 'S' to the name. For years, these five nations worked to increase
their collective voice on the global stage, focusing on economic cooperation, development, and reforming international financial institutions which they felt were dominated by Western powers. The bloc established its own institutions, like the New Development Bank (NDB), to finance infrastructure projects in member countries and other developing nations.
The First Wave of Expansion
The long-discussed expansion became a reality in a major way starting in 2024. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates officially joined in January 2024. They were followed by Indonesia, which became a full member in January 2025. Saudi Arabia was also invited and is considered by many members, including India, to be part of the now eleven-country group, though its formal status has remained ambiguous at times. This expansion dramatically increased the bloc's demographic and economic weight; it now represents nearly half the world's population and around 40% of global GDP. Additionally, a new 'Partner Country' category was created for nations wishing to align with the bloc without full membership, with ten countries including Malaysia, Nigeria, and Vietnam joining in 2025.
The Argument for Getting Bigger
The push for expansion is led primarily by China and Russia. Their argument is that a larger BRICS would create a more powerful platform for the 'Global South'—a term for developing nations—to challenge the political and economic dominance of the United States and Europe. Proponents believe that by adding more countries, especially major energy producers and strategically located nations, BRICS can accelerate the shift towards a 'multipolar' world order, where power is not concentrated in the West. The goal is to build an alternative framework for trade, finance, and diplomacy, reducing dependency on the US dollar and Western-led institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
The Argument for Staying Smaller
On the other side, countries like India and Brazil have traditionally urged caution. Their main concern is that rapid and uncontrolled expansion could make the group less effective. With more members come more divergent interests, which could lead to disagreements and make it harder to reach a consensus on key issues. There is also a significant strategic concern for India: that a larger bloc could become dominated by China and its interests, effectively turning BRICS into an anti-Western lobby rather than a non-aligned platform. This would undermine India's foreign policy of 'strategic autonomy', which involves maintaining good relations with all major world powers.
India's Delicate Balancing Act
For India, which holds the BRICS presidency in 2026, the expansion debate presents a strategic challenge. On one hand, India has long championed itself as a 'voice of the Global South' and supports a more inclusive and representative world order. On the other hand, it is wary of China's attempts to use the platform to further its own geopolitical rivalry with the US. To manage this, India has successfully pushed for establishing clear criteria and procedures for admitting new members, aiming for a gradual and consensus-based process rather than a rushed one. This approach allows India to support the group's growth while safeguarding its own strategic interests and preventing the bloc from being hijacked by a single agenda.
Who Else Wants to Join?
The line to join BRICS is long. More than 30 countries have formally applied or expressed strong interest, showcasing the bloc's growing appeal. The list of aspirants is diverse, including NATO member Turkey, regional powers like Pakistan and Algeria, and nations such as Bangladesh and Venezuela. This widespread interest highlights a growing desire among developing countries for alternative platforms where their voices can be heard and their economic interests prioritized, outside the traditional structures of global power.
