BRICS as a Grouping
BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies that increasingly coordinates positions on global economic governance, trade and climate finance to represent Global South interests.
- The acronym BRIC was coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill; the grouping held its first formal summit in 2009 (Yekaterinburg, Russia). South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS.
- In a major 2024 expansion (decided at the Johannesburg Summit, August 2023), Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates joined as full members effective 1 January 2024, with Saudi Arabia invited but yet to formally confirm accession.
- The expanded "BRICS+" bloc now represents a significant share of global population and GDP (on a PPP basis), giving it greater collective bargaining weight on issues like trade and climate finance.
● Tracked since August 18, 2026 · last seen September 13, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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