The BRICS grouping – originally Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – has grown beyond its origins as a loose acronym into a platform for Global Majority countries seeking greater strategic autonomy. With new members such as Egypt, Ethiopia and Iran joining, and many other states expressing interest, the bloc’s trajectory reflects a broader multipolar shift in global politics.

Many Global Majority countries view the organization as a means to engage both Western powers and China on more independent terms, avoiding the need to choose sides in a growing geopolitical rivalry. Engagement with BRICS now includes efforts to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar through alternative financial mechanisms such as BRICS Pay, CIPS and SPFS.

Internal dynamics remain complex. Differences in national priorities create tensions, most visibly between China and India, while some states, including Argentina, have opted against involvement. At the same time, the expansion to BRICS+ has broadened the group’s geographic reach and amplified its influence in international forums. With BRICS countries now making up almost half the global population and counting, these shifts are significantly reshaping trade relationships and diplomatic alignments, with implications that extend well beyond the original five members.