Is BRICS ready to invite Saudi Arabia into the alliance? Recent developments suggest a complex landscape as the bloc aims to expand its global influence. According to Bloomberg, BRICS is all set to invite Middle Eastern nation Saudi Arabia into the alliance, a move poised to reshape the global financial order.
However, the situation is nuanced. While Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to join the BRICS alliance from January 2025, according to South African President Cyril, not all invitations have been uniformly accepted. Despite five new countries formally accepting issued invitations, one of the priced countries of that expansion has stepped back from its original decision to join. Specifically, Saudi Arabia has reportedly held off on formally joining.
Sources indicate that Saudi Arabia has held off formally joining the BRICS bloc of nations despite attending a meeting in Brazil last week, two sources said, finessing an issue that could upset existing geopolitical balances. This hesitation comes despite earlier reports confirming that Iran and Saudi Arabia were among six countries invited Thursday to join the BRICS bloc of developing economies in a move that showed signs of a significant shift in BRICS strategy.
The potential inclusion of Saudi Arabia remains a pivotal point. Its vast oil reserves and economic power would undoubtedly amplify the bloc's influence. Whether Saudi Arabia will ultimately solidify its membership in the BRICS alliance remains to be seen, but the invitation stands, marking a crucial juncture for the future of BRICS and its global impact.