Expansion of BRICS membership: Prime Minister Modi congratulated the new member countries

BRICS announced on Thursday that the awaited expansion of the grouping will go ahead.

The BRICS group currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. “The membership will take effect from the first of January, 2024,” Ramaphosa said. In a video message, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the new BRICS members, adding that the bloc's global influence would continue to grow.

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Argentina and Ethiopia will join BRICS, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The six countries are expected to become members starting 1 January, 2024.

“Through this step, the faith of numerous nations in a multipolar world order will become stronger," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcoming the expansion in the five-nation grouping.

Congratulating the countries who had become new members of the BRICS, Modi said “I am pleased that our teams were able to build agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of expansion."

“As I said yesterday, India has always fully supported the expansion of the membership of BRICS," said Modi during a press statement with the other BRICS leaders.