Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Confirmed BRICS Membership

• Five countries, namely Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, confirmed that they're joining the BRICS bloc
• Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor confirmed that the nations are joining BRICS and revealed that Argentina declined the invitation
• Dr Kenneth Creamer from Wits University told Briefly News why he believes countries are joining BRICS
• South Africans and international netizens applauded the move and hailed it

Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of global and local social issues like education and heritage in South Africa during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor confirmed that Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt had accepted the invitation to join BRICS. Many Slutb Africans and citizens from future member states have hailed this as a groundbreaking move.

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5 More countries confirm BRICS membership

According to TimesLIVE, Pandor spoke during a press conference on 31 January 2024 and updated the country on the BRICS invitations. Argentina was one of the nations that BRICS extended membership to, and the government declined to join BRICS.

Pandor revealed that the current Argentinan administration refused to act on the previous administration's application to join BRICS as full members. The members of BRICS agreed that they would assist in removing an outdated world order and usher in a new one.

Dr Kenneth Creamer share his views with Briefly News

Speaking to Briefly News, Dr Kenneth Creamer, an economist from Wits University, shared why he believes more countries are joining BRICS.

"The reason countries wish to join BRICS can be explained economically and in geo-political terms. Economically, BRICS countries have the potential to mobilise significant intra-bloc trade and investment flows, which can assist economic growth and job creation within BRICS countries. Geo-politically, the BRICS bloc is playing a role in re-balancing political power in a world which for many years has been dominated by a number of European countries and the United States."

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"Despite this common economic and geo-political agenda, the countries in the BRICS-plus grouping are diverse and have distinct features. Brazil, India and South Africa are democracies, whereas a number of the other member countries have authoritarian forms of government. The democracies within BRICS have a particular role in asserting democratic values and the benefits of a fairer, more inclusive, rules-based global order."

Netizens celebrate new economic powerhouse

Netizens commenting on @spectatorindex's tweet celebrated the move, as some believe it could destabilise the dollar.

Tebogo Koma said:

"Like it or not, SA has reshaped global politics either though BRICS, ICJ, AGOA, SADC or AU."

Nema Njr said:

"We are getting stronger."

Travel Bucket List suggested:

"Dissolve the UN and let South Africa lead the BRICS. Establish a substitute UN for BRICS."

Ulrich observed:

"With Saudi Arabia joining, 43% of global oil output comes from the BRICS. Mind-blowing statistic and deeply worrying for the West."

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Tony Montana said:

"The panic should start when BRICS starts supplying and stationing bases in the global south. That will be the moment of truth for North America."

Naledi Pandor clarifies BRICS goals

Similarly, Briefly News reported that Pandor clarified that the goal of the BRICS bloc is to move away from relying on Western powers.

She said that this does not mean that there will be a new currency, but that there will be a focus on the countries relying less on the US dollar. Many complained that the BRICS bloc is led by China and Russia, which they consider dictatorial states.

Source: Briefly News