South Africa Signals BRICS Expansion May Not Happen in August

Is BRICS expansion on hold? Recent signals from South Africa suggest the highly anticipated expansion of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) bloc may not materialize this August. The leaders of BRICS, including South African President Cyril, are due to hold three days of talks starting August 22nd, with a possible expansion high on the agenda. However, South Africa has signaled that BRICS expansion may not happen in August, as the matter may require continued deliberation.

The 15th BRICS Summit, held in August 2025 and hosted by South Africa, represented a significant milestone for the group as new members were announced, signalling BRICS’ expanded influence. Yet, the path to expansion hasn't been smooth. Concerns linger, particularly regarding South Africa's ability to navigate the complexities of hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, given the ICC legal requirement to arrest him. South Africa has not found a way to avoid the ICC legal requirement to arrest Vladimir Putin at the next BRICS summit, which it is hosting in August.

The expansion of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) bloc, announced during the fifteenth yearly Brics Summit in August, has raised questions. Some analysts warn that the choice of countries selected for induction into the BRICS bloc suggests the grouping as a whole may be headed on a path. South Africa instead hopes for a compromise whereby joiners are given second-class status, mere B-listers at the party. The details need to be worked. The expansion of BRICS could give South Africa economic and political clout – but questions still hang over the bloc’s legitimacy.

Despite the potential benefits of expansion, these challenges are prompting South Africa to reconsider the timeline for adding new members. Stay tuned for updates as the BRICS nations continue their discussions.