Introduction
In 2024, the BRICS alliance—a coalition of five emerging economies—took a major leap forward. Through a landmark expansion, it welcomed four new full members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. This move, announced at the 15th BRICS Summit in late 2023, was implemented from January 1, 2024. Indonesia later joined as the 10th full member in early 2025. A broader BRICS+ partner country tier was also launched, including an expanding list of nations. This expansion has profound implications for global politics, economics, and the emerging multipolar order.
Expansion: Who Joined and When
At the 15th BRICS Summit (Johannesburg, August 2023), leaders invited six countries—Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—to join BRICS effective January 1, 2024 Reddit+3Reddit+3The Times of India+3The Guardian+9Wikipedia+9ThePrint+9. However, Argentina withdrew its application by late December 2023 under its new government Wikipedia+5Wikipedia+5BRICS Cooperation+5. Saudi Arabia delayed acceptance and remained undecided through early 2024 WikipediaWikipedia.
Consequently, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE officially became full members on January 1, 2024, expanding BRICS from five to nine countries Financial Times+15Council on Foreign Relations+15Wikipedia+15.
Later, Indonesia was formally admitted as a full member on January 6, 2025, becoming the tenth BRICS member Testbook.
Meanwhile, BRICS introduced a “partner country” category during the 2024 Summit in Kazan, adding several nations including Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia (initially), Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam as partners by end of 2024 and into 2025 Business Insider+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2.
Why This Expansion Matters
Geographic and Economic Weight
With full membership rising to 10 countries, BRICS now includes key energy producers and populous nations across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. This expanded bloc accounts for nearly 45–50% of the world’s population, around 30% of global GDP (nominal), and 40% of global trade and energy output Wikipedia+5BRICS Cooperation+5Testbook+5.
Strategic Purpose
The expansion underscores BRICS’ ambition to foster a multipolar global order and reduce reliance on Western-led institutions. The bloc aims to promote South-South cooperation, reform global financial institutions like the UN, IMF, and World Bank, and develop infrastructures such as the New Development Bank (NDB) and BRICS Pay, aimed at facilitating local-currency trade and bypassing systems like SWIFT Reddit+2Council on Foreign Relations+2adda247+2.
Diplomatic Significance
China and Russia have been leading proponents of expansion, viewing it as a way to challenge Western dominance. However, other members—especially India and Brazil—express caution, wary of diluting their influence and of increasing authoritarian presence within the bloc The GuardianRedditReddit.
Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities
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Greater Representation: Expansion brings BRICS coverage into key regions such as the Middle East, North/East Africa, and Southeast Asia, boosting its legitimacy and diversity.
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Financial Innovation: Steps toward de-dollarization, local-currency trade, and strengthened NDB financing empower members with alternatives to traditional global finance structures. BRICS Pay and settlement systems are core initiatives adda247Council on Foreign RelationsWikipedia.
Challenges
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Internal Divergence: The bloc now spans democracies, authoritarian regimes, and conflicting foreign policies. That affects consensus on global issues—such as responses to conflicts or economic crises The Guardian.
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Purpose and Cohesion: Critics argue BRICS risks becoming a symbolic bloc unless it pursues tangible reforms. Without unity, expansion may undermine effective decision-making Financial TimesThe Guardian.
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Political Conflicts: India and Brazil remain cautious about expansion overshadowing them. Meanwhile, U.S. pressure and trade threats—such as tariffs under the Trump administration—pose external stress on BRICS alignment and de-dollarization efforts Reddit+15Business Insider+15Financial Times+15.
Looking Forward: BRICS in 2025 and Beyond
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Indonesia’s Membership: The formal inclusion of Indonesia in January 2025 extends BRICS into Southeast Asia, increasing its demographic and strategic weight infobrics.org+2Testbook+2Reddit+2.
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Expanded Partner Tier: With countries like Nigeria and Vietnam becoming partners, BRICS is experimenting with layered engagement beyond full membership, enhancing outreach while maintaining structural flexibility Reddit+2Testbook+2Council on Foreign Relations+2.
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Institutional Reform Agenda: Future summits will likely focus on strengthening UN reform, global governance, climate action, South-South trade mechanisms, and continued experimentation with new financial infrastructure.
Conclusion
The 2024 expansion of BRICS represents a defining shift in the structure and ambition of the bloc. By admitting Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and UAE as full members—and later Indonesia—BRICS has expanded its geographical, economic, and demographic influence. The move underscores its commitment to fostering a multipolar global order, reforming international institutions, and developing parallel infrastructure like BRICS Pay and enhanced NDB financing.
However, this expansion comes with heightened complexity and internal tension. Diverging political systems, regional interests, and trust in BRICS’ efficacy cloud cohesion. Critics caution that without lasting institutional clarity and actionable reforms, the alliance risks becoming symbolic rather than transformative.
Still, if BRICS can navigate these internal differences and translate rhetoric into implementation—on issues like currency diversification, South–South partnerships, global governance reform, and climate goals—it may establish itself as a credible counterweight to Western-dominated institutions.
Looking ahead, Indonesia’s membership, the continued rise of partner countries, and institutional innovation will define BRICS’ trajectory. At stake is its ability to evolve from a loose forum of emerging economies into a substantive multilateral force shaping the 21st century global order—one that speaks for nearly half the world and offers viable alternatives to established global systems.