BRICS is a group of eleven countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran — acting as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for the Global South.
BRICS aims to strengthen economic, political, and social cooperation among its members while increasing the influence of Global South nations in global governance. Its objectives include promoting equality in international participation and improving the effectiveness of institutions such as the United Nations, IMF, World Bank, and the World Trade Organization.
The main goals of BRICS include strengthening economic cooperation, enhancing political coordination, supporting social inclusion and sustainable development, increasing representation for emerging economies in global governance, and advancing reforms in international organizations such as the IMF and World Bank.
The acronym BRIC was coined in 2001 by a Goldman Sachs economist recognizing the dynamic economic growth of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The first BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting was held in 2006 during the UN General Assembly in New York.
The first BRIC Leaders’ Summit was held in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The group began coordinated actions in the G20, IMF, and World Bank, advocating for reforms to better reflect the growing economic weight of emerging nations.
South Africa joined in 2011, adding the “S” to BRICS and expanding the group’s representation to include Africa.
In 2023, during the Johannesburg Summit, a major expansion was announced. Six new members joined the group in 2024–2025: Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
BRICS is composed of eleven countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
BRICS partner countries include Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. Vietnam was officially welcomed as the tenth partner country in 2024.
