At the 2024 BRICS summit, the alliance officially announced the addition of 13 new partner countries, including Nigeria, marking a significant expansion of the bloc.
According to summit sources, the newly invited nations will join BRICS as partner countries rather than full members.
WION News reporter Sidhant Sibal first broke the story, which has garnered considerable attention. In addition to discussions about a potential new BRICS currency, expansion remains one of the summit’s central topics. Last year, several nations were invited to join as full members, but the newly added partners have not yet received full membership status. It remains uncertain whether they will eventually receive full membership invitations or remain as partners.
The BRICS alliance has seen remarkable growth over the past two years, with a clear goal of increasing its influence on the global stage and challenging Western dominance. The group has aggressively pursued de-dollarization, encouraging trade among its members without relying on the US dollar. This move is part of a broader effort to lessen the world’s dependence on the greenback.
Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the status of BRICS partners. According to Ushakov, “It will be necessary to discuss with them how ready they are for full-fledged or any other BRICS membership.” The issue will be a key topic of consultation between the BRICS leaders.
It’s important to distinguish between BRICS members and partners. Full members have voting rights, participate in all summits and meetings, and are fully committed to the bloc. In contrast, partner countries engage selectively in BRICS activities and can continue participating in other international organizations. However, the new partners may still have the potential to become full members in the future, depending on further decisions from the bloc.
As BRICS continues to grow and expand its reach, these new partnerships could further strengthen its global influence and continue the trend of de-dollarization.
