Iran And Saudi Arabia Join BRICS, South African President: New Round To Build A Fair World

The leaders of BRICS member countries and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave a press statement Thursday. (Twitter/@BRICSza)

JAKARTA - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as the host of the 15th BRICS Summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) announced the bloc is ready to welcome Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates as new members early next year.

This announcement is considered the first step in expanding the block, opening up opportunities for dozens of countries that are said to be interested in joining, to balance Western dominance.

"BRICS has started a new chapter in its efforts to build a just world, a just world, a world that is also inclusive and prosperous," President Ramaphosa said.

The new candidate will be officially accepted as a member on January 1, 2024. President of Ramaphosa and President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva opens the door to the possible acceptance of other new members in the future.

"We have a consensus on the first phase of this expansion process and other phases will follow," President Ramaphosa told a news conference.

#BRICSza | H.E. President Ramaphosa . Johannesburg II Declaration adopted . The XV Summit has adopted guiding principles on the BRICS EXPANSION.Following countries invited to join .ArgentinaEgypt Ethiopia Iran Saudi Arabia UAE To take effect from the 1st of January 2024 pic.twitter.com/OOa9uqCXqs

— BRICSza (@BRICSza) August 24, 2023

#BRICSza HE President Ramaphosa Johannesburg II Declaration added The XV Summit has added guiding principles on the BRICS EXPANSION.Following countries invited to join Argent Egypt Ethiopia Iran Saudi Arabia UAE To take effect from the 1st of January 2024 pic.twitter.com/OOa9uqCXqs

Meanwhile, President Lula said globalization's promises had failed, adding it was time to revitalize cooperation with developing countries due to "there is a risk of nuclear war", a reference to rising tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine conflict.

United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed, whose country has become a member of the block's New Development Bank (NDB), said he appreciated the entry of his country as a new member.

"We look forward to a continuous commitment to cooperation for prosperity, dignity, and benefits for all nations and people around the world," he wrote.

The debate over the expansion of membership became the main agenda in the three-day summit that took place in Johannesburg. Although all BRICS members publicly expressed their support for developing the bloc, there was a difference of opinion among leaders about how much and how quickly the support would be given.

"This membership expansion is historic," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his remarks following the announcement of membership expansion.

"This shows the determination of BRICS countries to unite and cooperate with broader developing countries," he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the expansion of the block should be an example for other global institutions founded in the 20th century and considered outdated.

"The expansion and modernization of BRICS is a message that all institutions in the world need to form themselves according to the changing times," he explained.

Previously, more than 40 countries had expressed interest in joining BRICS, South African officials said, and 22 countries have officially requested acceptance.