The BRICS alliance is inviting a number of countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, to join the group, according South African President and current BRICS chair Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday.
Along with Egypt, the top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has been invited to join as well. The new member will be effective from January 1, 2024, Ramaphosa added.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Algeria, and Türkiye are also among the countries that have submitted bids to join the BRICS group.
Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) supported the expansion of the grouping, the first such expansion since 2010 when South Africa was inducted into the group.
BRICS is a diverse group of nations.
It is an equal partnership of countries that have differing views but a shared vision for a better world.
As the five #BRICS members, we have reached agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of the #BRICS…— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) August 24, 2023
