G7 Competition BRICS, Different Dreams in Expanding Allies

BRICS, composed of five emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is facing divided opinions among member countries regarding the issue of expansion.

The 15th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held on the 22nd (local time) in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a woman is seen walking past a summit advertisement banner on the 20th.
[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 21st that it seems difficult for member countries to reach a unified conclusion on the major agenda of membership expansion at the 15th BRICS summit held in South Africa on the 22nd (local time).

Currently, BRICS has five member countries, but 23 countries including Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and Indonesia have requested to join BRICS.

China and Russia are showing a proactive stance on expanding membership. China wants to develop BRICS into a consultative body that can counter the US-centered Group of Seven (G7) as a way to check the United States. Russia, losing its standing in the international community due to the Ukraine war, also wants to increase its allies through BRICS.

However, it is analyzed that India and Brazil are less likely to agree to this. India has officially expressed openness to BRICS expansion but attached the condition that criteria for accepting new members must be established.

Brazil is also known to hold the position that the original purpose of BRICS as a gathering of emerging economies must be maintained. Brazilian President Luiz In?cio Lula da Silva recently stated in a press conference, "We can accept countries as members after first setting the conditions (for BRICS membership) and then having those countries meet them."

If BRICS accepts only countries whose population or economy exceeds a certain level, Belarus and Iran could be excluded from the list.

Gustavo de Carvalho, a researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs, pointed out to the NYT, "The South African government wants to align with China, but its actual economic interests are deeper with Western countries."