Despite initial reports last month that it formerly accepted the invitation, Saudi Arabia has yet to join BRICS officially. The Middle-Eastern nation was one of multiple countries invited to join the bloc in August 2023, but according to a Saudi Arabia official, the country is still mulling the invite.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor previously stated that Saudi Arabia officially joined the group. However, a source from the country told Reuters, “Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to the invitation to join BRICS.”
While the invitation has yet to be accepted, the source added in the statement that the invitation is still under consideration. Saudi Arabia joining the bloc would make BRICS stronger in the global economy, especially in the Global South.
Since BRICS sent out invitations, Argentina had declined amid a regime change. Moreover, questions had begun to surface about Saudi Arabia’s intentions to join as well. The country’s insistence that it was still considering joining in 2024 led many to worry that a rejection was possible. Now, it appears that the country may potentially be the second to decline BRICS membership.
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Faisal Alibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s economy minister, said in January that the kingdom was still looking into BRICS. Riyadh is weighing its options in joining because of rising geopolitical tensions between the United States, China, and Russia.