The BRICS grouping will have 11 members starting in 2024, as Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Egypt and Argentina have been sent invitations.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the current chair of BRICS, made the announcement alongside leaders from India, China and Brazil. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not travel for the summit.
The BRICS group last expanded in 2010, a year after its formation. South Africa was added to the diplomatic bloc.
UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the BRICS’ invitation. “We look forward to a continued commitment of cooperation for the prosperity, dignity and benefit of all nations and people around the world,” he said.
China’s Xi Jinping also hailed the bloc’s decision and said the “expansion is historic.”
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The inclusion of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates together in the same economic or political organization would have been unthinkable in recent years amid escalating tensions following the collapse of Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal and a series of attacks attributed to the country since.
(With AP inputs)