The BRICS alliance — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — welcomed five new countries into the bloc this year: Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia. This expansion signals a profound shift in global geopolitics, with member states now representing over 45% of the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP.
Pakistan, although not yet part of BRICS, closely watched the summit in Kazan, Russia. Diplomats from Islamabad praised the group’s vision of multipolarity and hinted at future participation if regional stability and eligibility improve.
BRICS members aim to challenge the dollar-dominated financial system. They’ve proposed alternative trade mechanisms and discussed a potential joint currency backed by commodities — ideas that resonate with many developing countries struggling under debt burdens.
The expanded group also brings new regional complexities. Iran and Saudi Arabia, historic rivals, are now allies in the same bloc. Analysts say the success of BRICS+ will depend on economic cooperation outweighing geopolitical competition.
The United States and EU have downplayed the move, calling BRICS “more symbolic than structural.” Yet their strategic alliances — especially in Africa, the Gulf, and South Asia — could be tested if BRICS+ achieves real financial autonomy.
In Pakistan, economists say a more balanced global order could open new opportunities. “If BRICS can offer alternatives to IMF-style conditionality,” one Lahore-based analyst said, “Pakistan’s future options multiply.”
While still outside the group, Pakistan’s inclusion in BRICS forums or financial initiatives may not be far off — especially if its geopolitical balancing act between China, Russia, and the West remains intact.
