In the aftermath of the June 1-2 BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting and the expanded “Friends of BRICS” gathering which followed it in Cape Town, South Africa, the Foreign Ministers of current BRICS member nations discussed perspectives for expansion of the group into “BRICS-Plus,” given the large number of countries seeking membership. There is general concern that this process be approached with care, given the diversity and different levels of economic development of the nations applying.
In a discussion among themselves, reported by New Delhi Television (NDTV) on June 3, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar observed that membership expansion is still “a work in progress.” The five current members are approaching it with a positive intention and an open mind, responding to requests to formulate guiding principles, standards and the procedures for admission, he said. Aspects to be examined include first, how the existing BRICS members work with each other. Second, how they engage with non-BRICS countries. And thirdly, “how we look at possible BRICS expansion—what will be the appropriate format for that is something we need to work on.”
Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira agreed, adding that “BRICS is a brand and an asset, so we have to take care of it, because it means and represents a lot.” The BRICS represent 40% of the world’s population, he added, which makes it an important asset. “Maybe because of this big success, it has attracted the attention of many other countries in the 15 years” since BRICS was first founded.
