BRICS is a coalition of major emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – that banded together to coordinate policies and amplify their global voice. The term “BRIC” was originally coined by a Goldman Sachs economist in 2001 to describe the rising economic weight of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Those four countries held their first summit in 2009, and in 2010 they invited South Africa to join, turning “BRIC” into BRICS. Over the past decade and a half, the BRICS grouping has remained informal (no treaty or permanent secretariat) but holds annual summits and ministerial meetings to chart common goals.
Member Countries (2025): For its first decade, BRICS comprised the five original members. In recent years, the bloc has expanded. At the 2023 Johannesburg summit, BRICS leaders formally invited six more countries – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – to join the club. Most accepted: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE officially became BRICS members in 2024. (Argentina ultimately opted out after a government change, and Saudi Arabia’s accession is pending final confirmation) In early 2025, Indonesia was approved as a new BRICS member – making it the first Southeast Asian nation in the bloc. This brings BRICS’ membership to 10 countries as of 2025, representing every inhabited continent. Several other nations (from Nigeria to Thailand) have lined up as “BRICS Partner Countries” or expressed interest in future membership, reflecting the bloc’s growing appeal.