The BRICS group of nations decided to invite six more nations to the bloc at the Summit this week in Johannesburg. South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa said that Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will become new members of the bloc.The debate over expanding the BRICS bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has topped the agenda at a three-day summit in Johannesburg ending on Thursday with the offer coming into effect from January 1, 2023.“As a five BRICS countries, we have reached an agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria, and procedures on the BRICS expansion process which has been in discussion for quite a while,” Ramaphosa told a joint media briefing.Modi backs BRICS expansionPrime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the South African President for the successful Summit and also expressed Indias support for the expansion of the BRICS. He said that this move holds potential to open doors for the numerous interested countries who want to align with a coalition committed to championing the interests of the “Global South”.BRICS expanded: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia become full membersRead @ANI Story | https://t.co/wmwgrjMIRS#BRICS #BRICSSummit2023 #BRICSExpansion pic.twitter.com/9fJzaI27ON— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) August 24, 2023“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 belief of many countries in the multipolar world order,” PM Modi saidHe also brought to notice about the very deep and historic relations that India has with new BRICS members, adding that new dimensions will be also added to the bilateral cooperation.Modi also gave an obvious reference in his speech regarding the long-pending demand to expand the UN Security Council by increasing the number of both permanent and non-permanent representatives.He stated “The expansion and modernisation of BRICS is a message that all institutions in the world need to mold themselves according to changing times. This is an initiative that can be an example of reforms in other global institutions that were established in the 20th century.”No Pakistan in BRICSChina initiated to incorporate Pakistan into BRICS alliance earlier from its belief that the BRICS alliance should embrace an expanded membership, thereby accommodating more developing nations.This move to incorporate Pakistan into the BRICS alliance earlier stirred a diplomatic conundrum, introducing a layer of complexity to the ongoing proceedings.Moreover, all the six new entrants have signed agreements to join Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which India has not become a part of. The push for expansion was largely driven by China but had the backing of South Africa and Russia, which is grappling with its diplomatic isolation because of the Ukraine war.Chandrayaan-3 in BRICS Celebration for Chandrayaan-3s success was not only limited to India but reached the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg as well.#WATCH | On Chandrayaan-3, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa says, …Yesterday we congratulated India on landing the lunar module on the Moon… pic.twitter.com/JpKa34X4xK— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2023“In a few hours, Indias spacecraft Chandrayaan-3 will be landing on the moon. We congratulate you (Modi),” South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, the host of the summit, said after the prime minister delivered his speech at the conclave.Ramaphosa also quoted Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, “We are in a palace which has no end, but which we have reached. By exploring it and extending our relationship with it, we are ever making it more and more our own. This and many other achievements enable us to move forward to prosperity, to progress, and peace.” Further at the banquet Ramaphosa went on to say, “Tonight is a night when we have even more reason to celebrate as BRICS partners. A few hours ago this afternoon, India made history as the first country to successfully land a lunar module on the south pole of the Moon.”“We congratulate Prime Minister Modi, the government and people of India and the Indian Space Research Organisation on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission,” he added.
