BRICS Summit 2023 / BRICS is now a group of 11 countries – 6 more new countries joined, will its name change?

BRICS Summit 2023: 6 new members have been added to BRICS, a group consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In the conference held in South Africa, it was decided to make Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates as members of BRICS. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the decision on the expansion of the five-nation grouping at the end of the three-day BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Now the question arises whether the name of BRICS will change after the arrival of 6 new members.

BRICS Sherpa Anil Sooklal has answered this question. He said that there is no need to change the name of BRICS. I don't think so, the diplomat said, because BRICS has established itself as a global brand. Anil Sooklal said, this word is acceptable globally. The issue of renaming never came up during our discussions at the level of Sherpas or foreign ministers or leaders. He said that I think BRICS is no longer about only five countries. It is about all those who are part of BRICS.

Will be part from January

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the new members will become part of BRICS from January 1, 2024. He said that after consolidating the guiding principles, norms and procedures for the expansion process, the decision regarding the new members was agreed upon.

Ramaphosa said that we have a consensus on the first phase of the BRICS expansion process. He said that we have decided to invite Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates to become full members of BRICS. Ramaphosa further said that we give importance to the interests of other countries in forming a partnership with BRICS. We have tasked our foreign ministers to develop a BRICS partnership model and a list of potential countries (who want to join the group).