Saudi Arabia and Iran join the «BRICS club» with Russia and China

BRICS summit — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg Photo: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/POOL /EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Thursday that the BRICS Emerging Club will welcome six new members early next year, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran.

“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. Brix company. Membership will take effect on January 1, 2024,” Ramaphosa said at the Johannesburg Summit.

Kgosiensho Ramokgopa, Energy Minister in South Africa after signing a joint memorandum of cooperation with China to help solve electricity problems. Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images

Calls for enlargement by the BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — dominated the agenda of the three-day summit and revealed divisions among the bloc over the pace and criteria for admitting new members.

But the group, which makes decisions by consensus, has agreed on “guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures for the BRICS expansion process,” said Mr. Ramaphosa.

Nearly two dozen countries have officially submitted applications to join a club that represents a quarter of the global economy and more than three billion people. .

About 50 heads of state and government will attend the Johannesburg Summit, which will end on Thursday.