The potential new members include three of the world’s biggest oil producers: Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran. South African officials pushed back against characterizations that BRICS was taking an anti-West turn under the influence of China and Russia. While Saudi Arabia had been touted as a likely new member, Iran’s inclusion wasn’t expected. Until recently, the inclusion of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE together in the same economic or political organization would have been unthinkable, as tensions escalated following the collapse of Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal. But the UAE became the first to reengage diplomatically with Iran, and Saudi Arabia and Iran announced they had reached a separate détente in March, notably with the help of Chinese mediation.

Source: Ethiopian News August 25, 2023 15:50 UTC