The forthcoming BRICS enlargement, slated for discussion at the summit in South Africa, has drawn interest from a diverse set of hopefuls, including Iran and Argentina, all sharing a desire to reshape global rules that many nations view as skewed against them. Reuters highlights this increasing appetite for change as part of a broader conversation about rebalancing influence on the world stage.
The material points to growing dissatisfaction with certain trade practices, sanctions regimes, and the slow pace of development assistance for poorer countries, coupled with a sense that Western powers continue to dominate major international institutions. This mix of grievances fuels interest in expanding BRICS as a vehicle for reform and a counterweight to old systems of global governance.
Although BRICS has not published a formal list of enlargement candidates, several governments have openly indicated their interest in joining or aligning closely with the bloc. Reuters notes that such openness signals a shift in how several states view regional and global leadership in the post‑pandemic era.
Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between China and the United States, and amid the broader consequences of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, observers sense a strategic impulse within BRICS to present itself as a counterbalance to Western power. Expanding membership could amplify the bloc’s voice and accelerate its agenda for global reform, especially in areas like trade, development finance, and governance norms.
More than forty heads of state are expected to participate in the BRICS interstate union summit, which will bring together the core members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The Johannesburg gathering, set for August 22–24, will be hosted by the Republic of South Africa, signaling a pivotal moment for the bloc as it considers how to broaden its coalition and responsibilities in a rapidly changing world order.
In a notable statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wrote in a South African publication that BRICS does not aim to establish a new collective hegemon. The emphasis, according to the declaration, is on creating a more balanced multipolar framework that respects diverse paths to development while avoiding the dominance of any single power—an assertion that underscores the bloc’s intent to be a platform for consensus-building rather than confrontation.
Earlier reports have also indicated that China plans to present BRICS as a credible alternative to the G7, potentially redefining how major economies coordinate on economic policy, development assistance, and technological cooperation. This move would place BRICS at the heart of a broader strategic contest over influence in a multipolar world, with participants seeking to shape rules that reflect a wider spectrum of economic priorities and geopolitical interests.