BRICS: Russia has taken the leadership of the alliance and more and more countries want to join

Many countries are vying for admission to the BRICS economic group backed by China and Russia, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said on Wednesday.

It comes shortly after the band expanded its line-up for the first time in more than a decade.

Pandora revealed that 34 countries have expressed their interest in joining the bloc of the largest developing economies; however, she refrained from revealing the specific countries.

Russia, currently the group's rotating chair, is monitoring the acceptance of these applications. It is the first time a member of the group will lead it since its significant expansion earlier this year, when Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ethiopia and Egypt became official members. Initially, 6 countries were invited to join BRICS, with only Argentina failure the invitation.

The increase in membership is seen as a strategic victory for China and Russia, which are seeking to reform an international order they see as disproportionately influenced by the United States, amid escalating tensions with Washington and the Western world.

Originally consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa since 2011, BRICS has positioned itself as a counterweight to the Group of Seven (G-7) major advanced economies.

China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, has played a major role in the group's expansion, advocating for an alternative world order and strengthening alliances with powerful global actors from Russia to the Middle East.

Continued interest from multiple countries also benefits Russia, given its isolation from the West following the conflict in Ukraine. Russia's BRICS presidency provides an opportunity for President Vladimir Putin to assert Russia's importance on the world diplomatic stage.

This year's summit, scheduled for October in Kazan, Russia, offers Putin a platform for dialogue with world leaders, unlike last year when he participated only in practice due to an International Criminal Court warrant related to alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Putin has expressed readiness for cooperation with all countries interested in interaction with BRICS, as reported by the state news agency TASS. The group originated in 2009 with a high-level meeting between Brazil, Russia, India and China, expanding in 2011 to include South Africa.

As the BRICS moves toward increased diplomatic and financial coordination, including reform of the UN Security Council and diversification from the US dollar-dominated trading system, member states are exploring alternatives such as using local currencies for intra-group payments and international transactions.

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