Dozens of countries from four continents have reportedly submitted their membership applications for consideration at the annual summit – including, for the first time, a NATO member state: Turkey.
As many as 10 additional countries could be approved by the nine-member bloc at its summit, although the latest wave of newcomers might be classified as “partner countries” rather than full members.
While the BRICS organisation has no policy-making powers or financial system, the group is united by its opposition to Western sanctions and its efforts to reduce the dominance of the U.S. dollar in global trade. It is seeking an international payments system that would allow its members to bypass sanction measures, according to The Globe and Mail.
