BRICS expands to 11 members, with 32 more nations seeking to join the influential economic bloc challenging Western dominance.
The BRICS alliance—originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has grown to 11 full members after adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia (July 2025). The bloc now accounts for over 25% of global GDP and nearly half the world’s population.
Thirteen nations hold partner status, including Nigeria, Malaysia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, while 32 countries are seeking full membership. Twenty-three have filed official applications, with strong interest from Bahrain, Turkey, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Kuwait, and others. Many are drawn by access to the New Development Bank and reduced dependence on the U.S. dollar.
The July 2025 Rio Summit focused on expansion rules. Notably, Xi Jinping skipped the event, and Vladimir Putin joined by video due to ICC warrant concerns. Brazil, holding the presidency, emphasized Global South cooperation over anti-Western rhetoric.
Economic gains from new members include expanded market access, stronger South-South trade, and local currency lending—with the New Development Bank funding $32B across 96 projects since 2016. However, tensions remain, as China and Russia push rapid growth, while Brazil and India prefer caution.
Western pushback is growing. Donald Trump dismissed the bloc, saying, “BRICS is dead,” and threatened tariffs on members undermining the dollar. UN chief António Guterres countered by stressing that past global systems excluded African voices, underscoring BRICS’s appeal to developing nations.
Despite internal divisions, BRICS’s momentum signals a shift toward multipolar global governance—with more countries lining up to join.
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