The BRICS has accepted the request to add Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as new member countries. This announcement follows ongoing debate among BRICS member nations to expand, even though the immediacy of such expansion remains debatable. The BRICS group accounts for more than 42% of the world population, 30% of the world’s territory, 23% of the global economy, and 18% of global trade. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are the pioneering nations that form the BRICS. Meanwhile, Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, is at the 15th BRICS summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, to represent President Bola Tinubu.

Source: Nigerian Tribune August 24, 2023 21:10 UTC