The BRICS group, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has been making big news lately with their plans to expand. Once just a group of growing countries, they're now trying to be a bigger voice against big Western organisations like the G7 and the International Monetary Fund. Their growing membership and plans to change how the world is run have people wondering what could happen next.
Indonesia Joins in Big Way
In a big move, Indonesia officially joined the BRICS as a full member in January 2025, becoming the first country from Southeast Asia to be part of the group. This shows Indonesia's big goal to improve its global position and build stronger ties with other developing countries.
Indonesia decided to join for several reasons:
President Prabowo Subianto's New Way: President Prabowo, who started his job in October 2024, decided to get more involved in international things.
Economic Opportunities: Joining BRICS gives Indonesia access to a big market and new investment chances, especially in building things like infrastructure and energy.
Keeping Peace: Indonesia, like many other countries in Southeast Asia, is worried about the tension between China, Russia, and the West. Being part of BRICS helps them find a balance without upsetting anyone too much.
More Countries Joining the Party
Indonesia's joining is just the start. At the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg, the group welcomed several new members:
Iran
Ethiopia
Egypt
United Arab Emirates
Plus, 13 other countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, became "partner countries" of BRICS. This shows how many countries are getting interested in the group and want to work with them more.
What BRICS Wants to Do
When BRICS first started, they mainly focused on helping countries grow economically and making sure the global financial system was fair. But now, they're starting to talk about more important things like security and how the world is run. They think that the current big organisations don't really represent the interests of developing countries well enough.
Brazil's Role in the Future
Brazil, which is leading the BRICS in 2025, has a big plan for the group. They want to:
Change How the World is Run: Brazil wants to make sure that the big global organisations like the United Nations Security Council and the International Monetary Fund give more power to developing countries.
Help Countries Work Together: The BRICS group wants to encourage countries in the developing world to work together to solve problems like poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Create a More Balanced World: Brazil wants to make sure that big Western countries don't have too much control over global affairs and that there's a more equal balance of power in the world.
Challenges Ahead
Despite their big plans, BRICS faces some problems:
Different Views: With countries from all over the world in the group, it can be hard to agree on things.
Competition: Some people think that the big Western organisations might not like what BRICS is trying to do and might try to stop them.
Skepticism: Some people are still not sure how strong and effective BRICS will be.
Will BRICS Change Things?
BRICS' growth and their big plans are a big deal in world politics. The group's growing influence shows how many developing countries want a more fair and representative international system. The next few years will be really important to see if BRICS can make their plans a reality and change the way the world is run.
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