In a major development, the leaders of the BRICS have agreed unanimously for the expansion of the bloc. While addressing a joint press conference on Thursday, leaders of BRICS-- Indian PM Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Russian President Vladimir Putin-- have agreed to include Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE into the list of BRICS nations.
The group said that the newly members will become full members in January next year.
While addressing a joint presser, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the bloc's decision to expand the bloc for other nations. PM Modi congratulated countries for lending their faith and for applying the grouping. He urged member States to take advantage of India’s digital solutions and to work for the welfare of the Global South.
"Leaders have reached consensus on the expansion guidelines of admission to BRICS. The following countries will be full members of BRICS with effect from 1 January 2024: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE," the bloc said in a statement released after a joint press conference.
"We have decided to invite the Argentine Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to become full members of BRICS. The membership will take effect from 1 January 2024," said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in his remarks at the BRICS Summit.
India's response to BRICS expansion
After the expansion was announced, PM Modi in his address conveyed his best wishes to the leaders of the six countries and said that they will further strengthen the BRICS alliance and give it a new impetus.
"First of all, I would like to convey my heartfelt congratulations to the leaders of these countries. I am confident that together with these countries we will able to infuse new momentum and new energy into our cooperation," he said.
"As I had said yesterday, India has always fully supported the expansion of BRICs membership. India has always believed that the addition of new members will further strengthen BRICS as an organisation and it will give our shared efforts a new impetus. This will also strengthen the beliefs of many countries in the world in a multipolar world order. I am pleased that our group have together agreed on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures for the expansion," added the PM.
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