With the BRICS summit starting in South Africa's Johannesburg on Tuesday, an Indian strategic affairs specialist told Sputnik India that the expansion of the economic forum is turning into a reality.
The comments of ex-Indian diplomat and geopolitics pundit Anil Trigunayat come amid reports of growing friction among member states, especially China, India, and Brazil over expanding the influential forum.
BRICS currently represents approximately 26 percent of the global economy and around 41 percent of the world's population.
Differences Over Expansion of BRICS
Earlier this month, multiple media outlets claimed that the divisions between India and China over adding new members to BRICS were allegedly based on the intense rivalry the two countries share in Asia.
Brazil, meanwhile, is reportedly worried about losing its clout in the forum if new members join BRICS, and said to be opposing the efforts of other states to enlarge the grouping.
Which Countries Want to Join BRICS?
If reports are to be believed, more than 40 nations, including Iran, Argentina, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, Cuba, and Kazakhstan amongst others have shown interest in joining BRICS.
Against this backdrop, whether heads of BRICS member countries will be able to overcome their differences and agree on criteria for membership of the grouping is one of the biggest questions going around the world.
In this light, Trigunayat, who previously served as the deputy head of India's diplomatic mission in Russia and as an ambassador in Jordan and Libya, asserted that the expansion of BRICS was no longer a matter of if but when.
"The first lot may likely be identified in Johannesburg as several key applicant countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Algeria, and Argentina will be attending the outreach activities in South Africa this week," he told Sputnik India on Tuesday.
Trigunayat noted that member states have been discussing modalities of BRICS expansion and will surely find out the way forward.
But the strategic affairs commentator warned that any unplanned expansion may dilute the BRICS.
According to him, apart from two major economies like India and China holding great attraction, the current uncertainty in global order has also engineered an attraction towards BRICS.
That's why, Trigunayat reckons that the leaders of member countries should be able to address concerns and develop a template for BRICS membership.
BRICS - A Club of Economic Powers Interlaced With a Non-Western Approach
He pointed out that BRICS is a club of economic powers whose combined GDP matches that of G-7.
"They also represent big markets and huge capacities including strategic autonomy as well as the quest for an alternate financial system and other architecture have added to its attraction which is interlaced by a non-Western approach," Trigunayat opined.
This is perhaps why there's no wonder 20 countries across continents have formally applied and as many have expressed interest in being part of the BRICS, the international relations expert summed up.