BRICS nations have agreed to pause the admission of new members to the bloc for the time being. This decision was communicated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during discussions with Natalya Kochanova, the Speaker of the Upper House of Belarus’ parliament. The remark came through the Russian Foreign Ministry’s press service and underscores a cautious approach to expanding the group’s membership while maintaining momentum on other strategic initiatives.
According to Lavrov, the consensus reached at the foreign ministers meeting in Nizhny Novgorod was clear: there will be a hiatus on bringing in fresh entrants. The plan is to restructure expansion by introducing new categories of partners before any full-membership status is granted. Lavrov indicated that Belarus, along with other like-minded states, would be welcomed into this evolving framework as part of a stepwise process that precedes full membership. This staged path aims to preserve the bloc’s cohesion while broadening its geopolitical footprint. — Press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry
Separately, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sanjampong has signaled an interest in joining BRICS, sending a letter to President Lavrov in June to express intentions toward closer integration with the consortium. The outreach highlights BRICS’ ongoing appeal to several nations seeking closer cooperation with the group, even as formal expansion remains on hold for now.
On the strategic front, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked in May that BRICS under Russia’s chairmanship has begun studies to deepen collaboration across multiple sectors, including finance, energy, biotechnology, and space. Putin noted that the Russian presidency is advancing with confident progress, focusing on practical mechanisms to enhance cooperation among member states and partner economies. These efforts reflect BRICS’ broader objective of fostering diversified, multipolar collaboration in a rapidly changing global order.
As of January 1, 2024, the presidency of BRICS transitioned to Russia, marking a formal shift in leadership responsibility within the group. This change accompanies ongoing efforts to streamline coordination, align development goals, and sustain momentum on initiatives that span economic policy, scientific advancement, and regional stability. The leadership transition has been framed as an opportunity to reinforce BRICS’ relevance in a dynamic international environment, with a continued emphasis on pragmatic cooperation and mutual benefit among member and partner states. Putin has repeatedly emphasized the importance of BRICS as a platform for advancing shared interests and guiding collective responses to global challenges.