A Bloc at a Crossroads
The 2023 summit in Johannesburg was billed as a pivotal moment for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Convening under the theme of partnership and inclusive multilateralism, the bloc aimed to strengthen its position as a representative
of the 'Global South' and provide a counterweight to Western-dominated global institutions. With over 40 countries reportedly expressing interest in joining, the summit's central agenda item became its most contentious: expansion. The world watched to see if BRICS could transform its economic heft—representing over 40% of the global population—into a more cohesive and influential political force.
The Grand Ambition: A Bigger BRICS
The primary driver behind the expansion push was China, which saw the inclusion of new members as a way to build a stronger diplomatic and economic coalition to counter US influence. Beijing, along with Russia, advocated for a rapid and significant enlargement, aiming to create a more powerful bloc of nations united against what they perceive as Western hegemony. Chinese President Xi Jinping framed the expansion as a historic new starting point for cooperation that would meet the expectations of the international community and serve the common interests of developing countries. The ambition was clear: to grow BRICS into a formidable geopolitical force capable of reshaping the global order.
The Fractures Emerge: Disagreement on the Details
While all members publicly supported the idea of expansion, there were significant divisions on how much and how quickly it should happen. India and Brazil, in particular, harboured reservations. Their primary concern was that a rapid, unstructured expansion would dilute their own influence and turn BRICS into a China-centric bloc. New Delhi was wary of Beijing using the expansion to advance its own strategic agenda, especially given the ongoing border tensions between the two nations. India therefore insisted on establishing clear criteria and procedures for admitting new members, advocating for a more cautious and selective approach to preserve the group's balance.
India's Strategic Tightrope Walk
For India, the summit was a delicate balancing act. As a champion of the Global South, India supported the idea of making the bloc more inclusive. However, it also had to protect its own strategic autonomy and prevent the group from taking a purely anti-Western stance, which could compromise its relationships with partners like the United States. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's eventual backing of the expansion was conditional on the consensus-based approach that India had pushed for. By ensuring that new members were chosen through an agreed-upon process, India aimed to manage the expansion in a way that strengthened the bloc without turning it into a tool for Chinese foreign policy.
The De-Dollarisation Distraction
Another major talking point at the summit was the idea of 'de-dollarisation'—reducing the reliance of member economies on the US dollar for international trade. While leaders from Brazil and Russia were vocal proponents, the topic revealed another layer of internal disagreement. There was no consensus on creating a common BRICS currency, an idea that faced significant practical and political headwinds. Instead, leaders tasked their finance ministers to consider the issue of using local currencies for trade, a far less dramatic step. This highlighted the gap between the bloc's ambitious rhetoric and the more pragmatic, and often divided, economic realities of its members.
The Final Compromise: A New BRICS-11
Ultimately, the summit ended in a carefully managed compromise. On August 24, 2023, it was announced that six nations—Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—were invited to become full members from January 1, 2024. The selection represented a geopolitical mix, including major oil producers and strategically located nations from the Middle East, Africa, and South America. The final decision was a victory for all sides in some ways. China got its expansion, and India and Brazil ensured the process was based on consensus and established criteria, preventing a free-for-all that could have destabilised the group's internal dynamics.
