BRICS inducted six new countries last year and only four accepted the invitation and joined the bloc. The United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia joined the alliance while Argentina declined the invitation. Saudi Arabia has kept the decision of joining on hold and is weighing its options. However, BRICS member India seems to be unhappy with the induction and plans to reject new invitations in 2024.
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Both Russia and China are looking to invite many more countries to join the alliance during the 2024 summit. Russia and China aim to form a grouping to counter the US, Europe, and other Western allies. India believes that China and Russia are using BRICS as a stepping stone to fulfill their nationalistic demands.
China and Russia are seeking revenge on the US using BRICS as a shield to fulfill their motives. Therefore, India is not keen on the discourse and might reject plans for expansion in the 2024 summit. “India wants the BRICS to retain its original essence of an equal partnership,” said a source to Businessline.
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“New Delhi wants a gap of about five years before admission of a second group of countries into BRICS. It believes that a minimum time would be needed for the bloc to adjust its functioning after the admission of the new countries in 2024. It has emphasized this in recent meetings of senior officials and sherpas,” the source summed it up.
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BRICS: India is Against the Inclusion of Pakistan in 2024
Pakistan has also formally applied to join the BRICS bloc in 2024 and India is unhappy with its application. India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads for decades and the neighboring countries don’t get along on any issue. Pakistan is seeking help from Russia and China to join BRICS in 2024 which has already made India feel uncomfortable.