South Africa is currently hosting the BRICS summit, which started on August 22 and runs until August 24. This summit is of particular importance, as it marks the return of face-to-face meetings since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin is unable to travel to Johannesburg due to the arrest warrant issued against him by the ICC. He will therefore participate in the summit remotely.
Among the major topics discussed during this meeting, the question of the enlargement of the BRICS is at the heart of the discussions. Since South Africa joined in 2010, no new country has joined the original group. Some member countries, such as China and Russia, have expressed their desire to expand the bloc in order to strengthen its weight and its ability to impose its views within the framework of multilateralism. However, other members, such as India and Brazil, are more cautious and want to establish clear and consistent criteria before welcoming new countries.
According to South Africa, 23 countries have officially expressed interest in joining the BRICS. This growing demand is partly explained by the major geopolitical changes that have taken place in recent times. The tense situation in Ukraine and the resulting uncertainties are pushing many countries to seek more predictability and strengthen their influence by joining groups such as the BRICS.
Candidate countries include several African countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Morocco. For these countries, joining the BRICS is also a way to strengthen their ties with China, which largely dominates the group. China is the largest trading partner for many African countries, and strengthening relations with it is seen as a way to benefit from its growing economic influence.
Apart from African countries, Argentina also expresses its desire to join the Brics. Indeed, the country is seeking access to the bloc’s new development bank, which could offer it direct access to international capital at low interest rates, which would benefit its investments.
However, Argentina faces obstacles due to its precarious financial situation and lack of creditworthiness. Moreover, the results of the primaries in the presidential election, marked by the surprise victory of a candidate close to the United States, dampened the support of Brazilian and Chinese members for the Argentine candidacy.
The Brics summit is therefore an opportunity for heads of state to discuss the enlargement of the group and to establish clear criteria for the accession of new countries. This decision is of great importance for the future of the bloc and its role in international affairs