China has publicly expressed an interest in Turkey joining BRICS, a signal that Ankara may find room to maneuver within the bloc as it continues to navigate its strategic partnerships on the world stage. The statement comes from Liu Shaobing, the Chinese ambassador to Ankara, who highlighted a shared optimism about expanding BRICS to include more members. He noted that the process of enlargement began under the leadership of the People’s Republic of China and emphasized that more than 20 countries have already submitted applications while six new members have been welcomed into the group. This push toward expansion, according to Liu, has created a sense of confidence within the international community and bolstered the idea of a broader, more inclusive development-focused alliance.
Liu Shaobing described the expansion as a historic moment and framed it as an opportunity for collaboration between China and other developing nations. He stressed that growth would be pursued collectively, with developing countries taking an active role in shaping the agenda and outcomes of BRICS. The diplomat argued that widening the circle would reinforce solidarity among member states and contribute to a more equitable international order, a narrative that resonates with many nations seeking greater influence within global governance structures.
In the commentary surrounding BRICS expansion, Sarong Shidore, who previously led the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute, offered a broader perspective. He characterized the expansion as a potential challenge to the United States’s dominant position in global politics, while also viewing it as a chance for Washington to engage with a redefined balance of power. Shidore pointed out that the shift signals growing dissatisfaction with the current global order and a desire among many countries to secure a more favorable role within that order. The discussion underscores BRICS as a platform where diverse interests converge, and where the rules of international engagement may gradually evolve to reflect emerging economic and political realities.
Historically speaking, BRICS began as a quartet comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined the group in 2010, expanding the coalition into a truly multi-continental alliance. The BRICS summit in Johannesburg, held from August 22 to August 24, marked a pivotal moment in which several candidate nations were invited to participate in the path toward future membership. Argentina, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were designated to participate from January 1, 2024, signaling a broadening of BRICS’s geographic and economic spectrum. These developments reflect a growing appetite among nations to align with a bloc that champions development, reform of international financial institutions, and a more balanced voice in global decision-making.
As BRICS expands, observers in both North America and elsewhere are watching closely how the bloc will harmonize the varied interests of its members. The United States and its allies may need to reassess alliances and trade arrangements to preserve influence while remaining open to cooperation on shared challenges such as sustainable development, climate policy, and regional stability. The BRICS expansion narrative, illustrated by the involvement of Turkey and other candidate nations, suggests a world where emerging economies increasingly shape the contours of global governance and economic collaboration. This evolution invites closer scrutiny of how BRICS will balance development priorities with geopolitical realities, and what that balance could mean for markets, investment, and international diplomacy across Canada, the United States, and beyond. The ongoing expansion process continues to unfold, with each new member contributing to a more diverse and potentially more resilient bloc, even as questions about governance, decision-making, and mutual interests remain a central part of the conversation. In this evolving landscape, analysts in North America are encouraged to monitor policy shifts, trade negotiations, and the broader implications for regional and global economic trends as BRICS moves further into the 2020s.