Nearly forty countries showed interest in BRICS, the grouping formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China plus South Africa. About 23 contenders formally pursued membership, yet only six were chosen during the Johannesburg summit last week. The discussion around the Middle East and North Africa dominates the energy conversation, and observers joked that BRICS might soon be BRICS plus OPEC, given the influence of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Even so, the original BRICS members remain focused on today’s energy needs while the bloc’s broader aims unfold, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and others weighing their own strategic moves within the group.
Although BRICS does not position itself as anti-West, this dynamic has stirred governments in the Arab world to explore alternatives to traditional alliances. The positions of the new entrants vary: Saudi Arabia and the Emirates are trying to balance Eastern and Western ties while still recognizing the value of close cooperation with one another and with the United States. Iran and Egypt, meanwhile, pursue opportunities that could bolster their economies amid ongoing economic pressures. For regimes like the Saudis and, especially, the Iranians, joining BRICS might unlock channels for greater regional influence and potential relief from some international restrictions without demanding immediate reforms on human rights.
goodbye to america
The Emirates has already signaled acceptance of the bloc’s invitation, with Iran and Egypt anticipated to follow. Saudi Arabia remains undecided but is inclined to join. A common thread is the growing disappointment with Western alignment—particularly with the United States—seen as a catalyst for rebalancing toward non-Western partnerships. The Saudi and Emirati positions have long rested on strong security ties with Washington, underpinned by protection in a volatile region. In recent years, and especially since a new U.S. administration pivoted its regional policy, oil-dependent monarchies have reoriented toward new partners and closer energy collaborations with Beijing, while showing openness to closer ties with Tehran, once a longstanding adversary to American interests.
“BRICS membership offers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates a way to balance their regional relationships,” commented a senior policy researcher at a prominent think tank during discussions on air for regional outlets. The invitation to Russia and to other participants has drawn attention as well; the region has hosted delegations that faced Western sanctions and sought to weather the economic storm with new alignments. In a separate conversation, Iran’s leadership characterized the BRICS expansion as evidence that unilateral strategies are giving way to multipolar approaches, strengthening non-Western economic and political ties.
For some observers, inviting Iran signals a challenge to the current global order. The timing coincides with a tumultuous period marked by large-scale protests and ongoing legitimacy debates within the BRICS framework. With sanctions still in place, Iran has proved willing to support BRICS initiatives that could reduce dependence on dollars and diversify financial channels, potentially loosening U.S. control over the international monetary system.
Half of oil production
Looking ahead, the inclusion of these six new members is expected to reshape global energy and economic dynamics next year. BRICS+ would account for a substantial share of world demographics, trade, and energy output: roughly a significant portion of global population, a sizable slice of world GDP, and a notable percentage of global energy trade, particularly oil. Analysts highlight that the bloc’s members favor moving away from dollar-centric trade, encouraging the use of local currencies for intra-BRICS transactions, a shift that could alter long-standing financial norms. The potential economic clout is accompanied by questions about cohesion, given divergent political systems and interests within BRICS.
As the bloc expands, the United States could lose a measure of its economic leverage and influence over which economies receive favorable treatment on the global stage. Yet concerns persist that accelerating membership could unsettle the bloc, though observers note that parallel shifts in Middle Eastern diplomacy—such as renewed ties among Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran—are already underway and may reinforce regional alignment with BRICS. The broader global landscape appears to be moving toward a more multipolar order, with the Global South seeking greater agency in shaping energy markets, development paths, and economic policy.