What are the countries that aspire to be part of the BRICS?

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) begin a new summit in Johannesburg this Tuesday, in which one of the main topics of discussion will be the expansion of this bloc with other emerging powers or countries of another type.

Heterogeneous

The five BRICS countries, which made up this alliance in 2009, currently represent 23% of world GDP, 42% of the population and more than 16% of global trade.

More than 20 countries have already submitted a formal demand to join the bloc, including Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

Other States such as Mexico, Pakistan or Turkey also expressed their interest, although without formalizing it. South Africa has been working this year on a list of “guidelines” for the entry of new members.

Taking into account the geographical, economic and political diversity of applicants, “it is difficult to see what the criteria for a possible expansion might be”explains to AFP John Stremlau, a specialist in international relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg.

Possible geopolitical evolution

The arrival of new countries could change the geopolitical balance of the bloc, according to experts.

Despite the geographical disparity of their members, the BRICS coincide in the demand for a more inclusive world political and economic balance, particularly in the face of USA and the European Union.

Among the new applicants, there are historically non-aligned countries, such as Indonesia or Ethiopia, but also others with a more hostile relationship with the United States, such as Iran or Venezuela.

“If Iran joins the BRICS”, or Saudi Arabia does, “this will obviously change the political dimension of the group”, says Cobus Van Staden, a South African researcher specializing in China-Africa relations.

An alternative?

The New Development Bank (NDB), created in 2015 by the BRICS to compete with the world Bank and the International Monetary Fundhas already welcomed Bangladesh, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates as new members.

Uruguay is also expected to join the NDB soon. However, “if the BRICS want to continue being the group of ‘big emerging economies’, it would be logical for southern countries that are part of the bloc to join the bloc.” G20″, says Stremlau, referring to Saudi Arabia or Indonesia. Argentina would also meet that profile.

According to this expert, “it will take a lot of time and a lot of practice in a tough discipline like diplomacy” to compete with the G20 or the G7.

Chinese ambitions

Before discussing the conditions of entry, the BRICS they must agree on the advisability of expanding the block. The question of expansion divides India above all and Chinathe two strongest economies among the five member countries.

Beijing wants to extend its influence, while New Delhi is wary of its regional rival’s ambitions. Russia and South Africa are also betting on an enlargement, while Brazil’s position is more doubtful.

Brazil, Russia, China and India founded this block in 2009 and South Africa joined them a year later.