BRICS welcomes new members

The BRICS grouping of countries (currently Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has doubled its membership. Is the expanded BRICS bloc a new rival for the G7? Experts from the Atlantic Council offer their opinions. The expansion is no triumph for China, writes C. Raja Mohan in Foreign Policy. Bloomberg reports on how China’s slowdown presents an upside for BRICS and provides the backstory on how the BRICS became a club that others want to join. BRICS countries are key sources for China’s commodities imports, finds André Brotto in Global Trade Alert. Lastly, the BRICS expansion is another example of the rise of the middle powers, as described in a new Financial Times series by Alec Russel.

Mentioned publications

BRICS is doubling its membership. Is the bloc a new rival for the G7? – The Atlantic Council, August 24, 2023
Increasing the BRICS membership brings benefits and challenges.
BRICS Expansion Is No Triumph for China – C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Policy, August 29, 2023
The internal politics of the BRICS states just got a lot more complicated.
China’s Slowdown Has an Upside for BRICS Bloc Dealmakers – Bloomberg, August 23, 2023
China’s economic loss may be a gain for the other BRICS members.
How BRICS Became a Club That Others Want to Join – Bloomberg, August 17, 2023
A history of the BRICS.
China, Commodities & the Rest of the BRICS – André Brotto, St. Gallen Endowment Global Trade Alert, August 24, 2023
China has turned to fellow BRICS states to source commodities without becoming dependent on them.
The rise of the middle powers – Alec Russel, Financial Times (five-part series), August 21-24, 2023
Changing geopolitics creates new opportunities for middle-tier economies.