The landscape of global economics and politics is shifting as BRICS expands its membership, promising a transformative impact on the Global South. Originally a coalition of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS has evolved into a dynamic platform representing emerging markets and developing countries across the globe.
An Expanding Alliance
The upcoming summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, scheduled for July 6-7, 2025, marks a historic milestone. For the first time, BRICS will convene with an expanded format of 11 full members and 10 partner countries, reflecting its growing global reach and strategic importance.
China has played a central role in this expansion, transforming BRICS from a group of five economies into a broader platform that champions the interests of the wider Global South. In 2017, during its rotating presidency, China introduced the “BRICS Plus” model, enriching the cooperation mechanism and extending its global partnership network.
A New Era of Cooperation
By 2024, BRICS welcomed five new full members—Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia. In January 2025, Indonesia joined as the newest full member, and Vietnam became the 10th partner country. This expansion signifies a shift towards a more institutionalized structure centered on BRICS cooperation, offering the Global South a stronger voice on the world stage.
“BRICS has been successful in bringing together countries with fundamentally different values, worldviews, and political and economic systems,” noted a policy report by Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, released in May 2025.
Impact on Global Governance
Collectively, BRICS countries now account for nearly half of the world’s population and contribute more than 50 percent to global economic growth. According to the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook released in April, BRICS nations accounted for 40.2 percent of global GDP (measured by purchasing power parity) in 2024, with projections rising to 40.7 percent in 2025.
The expansion has bolstered the ability of Global South countries to defend their development rights and increased their resilience to global economic shocks. “The greater BRICS cooperation marks a shift in the Global South from a relatively loose international force toward a more institutionalized structure,” said Xu Xiujun, a professor at the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
A Unified Voice for Progress
BRICS is committed to acting as a driving force in global governance reform and enhancing the representation of the Global South. In May 2025, BRICS countries jointly condemned unilateral trade measures that pose a serious threat to the global economy, emphasizing their support for a multilateral trading system and opposition to protectionism.
Beyond economics, BRICS has increasingly positioned itself as a defender of global peace and stability. In June 2025, the group issued a joint statement expressing grave concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East, calling for adherence to international law and the United Nations Charter.
Public perception of BRICS is overwhelmingly positive. A survey released on June 30, 2025, covering 35 countries with over 13,000 respondents, found an average approval rating of 95.8 percent for BRICS cooperation. In countries like Bangladesh, Chile, Cuba, and Iran, support exceeded 97 percent.
“BRICS offers a crucial platform for cooperation and a pathway for the Global South to participate more effectively in global governance,” Xu added.
