About the BRICS
The BRICS is a group formed by eleven countries: Brasil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. It serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries from the Global South and for coordination in the most diverse areas.
What is BRICS?
The BRICS is a group formed by eleven countries: Brasil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. It serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries from the Global South and for coordination in the most diverse areas.
The objectives of BRICS include strengthening economic, political, and social cooperation among its members, as well as increasing the influence of Global South countries in international governance. The group seeks to improve the legitimacy, equity in participation, and efficiency of global institutions such as the UN, IMF, World Bank, and WTO. Moreover, it aims to bolster sustainable social and economic development and promote social inclusion.
History and Origins
The acronym BRIC was conceived in 2001 by an economist from the Goldman Sachs investment bank in recognition of the dynamic economic growth of Brasil, Russia, India, and China.
As a cooperation and concertation forum, the BRIC was created by the political initiative of the governments of its founding countries. Its initial goal was to engage in dialog about the major themes in the international agenda and politically strengthen their common stances in order to democratize, legitimize, and balance the global order.
The first BRICS meeting occurred at the Ministers of Foreign Affairs level in 2006, at the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The first meeting of the Summit of Heads of State was held in 2009 in the city of Ekaterinburg, Russia.
As of the 2008 financial crisis, the then four countries began to act in a concerted manner in the context of the G20, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank, presenting proposals to reform the international economic and financial governance to reflect the increased relative weight of emerging countries in the global economy.
With the incorporation of South Africa in 2011, an “S” was added to the original acronym for the group’s first expansion. In 2023, during the Johannesburg Summit, the second expansion was defined, with the adhesion of six new members.
Over the past years, the BRICS has remained an informal coordination mechanism, with the presidency rotating among its members. Its activities traditionally revolve around three pillars: 1) politics and security; 2) economy and finance; and 3) P2P ('people-to-people'), or civil society.
The BRICS is currently composed of eleven countries: its five original members – Brasil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa, -, and six new members admitted in 2024-25 - Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Member Countries
The BRICS is currently composed of eleven countries: its five original members – Brasil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa -, and six new members admitted in 2024-25 - Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The group was originally composed of Brasil, Russia, India, and China in 2006; South Africa adhered in 2011; the new expansion, effective as of 2024, derived from the Johannesburg Declaration, from August 2023.
Partner Countries
According to the mandate agreed upon through the Johannesburg Declaration, the leaders approved the creation of the BRICS partner country category during the Kazan Summit in 2024. The BRICS partner countries are: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
Invited International Organizations
How is the presidency of the BRICS defined?
The BRICS presidency rotates according to the letters of its acronym. In 2025, the presidency is under Brasil’s leadership. Up until the present moment, the country holding the BRICS Presidency follows the acronym order, its term beginning on January 1st and ending on December 31st each year. With the recent adhesion of new members, a new rotation formula will be discussed.
The temporary presidencies define the priorities of the agenda and organize the group’s annual summit. The Brazilian Presidency of the BRICS will focus on international governance reform and Global South cooperation.
What are the participation categories at the BRICS?
Members and Partners
There are two participation categories at the BRICS: members and partners. The eleven members – Brasil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates – participate in all meetings, where the decision-making process is based on consensus.
The discussion about the partner country modality resulted from the mandate established during the Johannesburg Declaration and its creation was announced at the Kazan Summit, in October 2024. Partners are generally invited to participate in the BRICS Chancellors and Leaders Summit; however, they can also be present in other meetings if there is consensus among the members.
Throughout 2024, over 30 countries expressed interest in participating in the BRICS, either as members or partners.
Other engagement modalities: BRICS “Outreach” X BRICS “Plus”
Other modalities of participation in BRICS meetings include the "BRICS Outreach", launched by South Africa in 2013, and the "BRICS Plus", launched by China in 2017.
“BRICS Outreach” is a meeting between BRICS member countries and those from the geographic region of the country currently holding the rotating presidency who have been invited to such meeting.
"BRICS Plus" is a meeting between BRICS member countries and invited countries that are not from the geographic region of the country currently holding the BRICS rotating presidency.