INFORMAL ASSOCIATION OF LARGE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (BRICS)

What is BRICS? 

BRICS is an informal association of large developing economies. The name is derived from the English capital letters of the first member states: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa - BRICS. 

BRICS does not have a charter and a general secretary. The country that determines the direction of the association's work changes every year. For example, in 2024, BRICS was coordinated by Russia, in 2025 by Brazil. 

Which countries participate in the BRICS 

Initially, BRICS consisted of five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In 2024, four more countries joined them, UAE, Iran, Ethiopia and Egypt. Indonesia was added in early 2025. So there were 10 participants. Therefore, it is more correct today to call this association BRICS+. 

There are also countries that have special status for the BRICS: 

• Invited countries; 

• Partner States.

Invited countries. Saudi Arabia is currently in this status — it has received an offer to join the BRICS in 2023, but has not yet completed internal procedures. 

Partner States. This category appeared in 2024. The status of a BRICS partner means that a country can participate in the organization's events, share experiences, best practices, and cooperate with other participating countries. These countries include Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Bolivia. 

Delegations from 35 countries met at the summit in Kazan (Russia). The main issue of the event was the expansion of the BRICS membership. About 30 countries have applied for membership.

Goals and objectives of the BRICS 

The association currently has three key areas of work. They are spelled out in the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy. 

Politics and security. The BRICS countries are contributing to the formation of a democratic multipolar world, strengthening global security and stability in the world. The participating countries share their experience in the struggle against terrorism, corruption, cyber threats and other types of crime. 

Economics and finance. The BRICS countries are developing trade relations, stimulating investment, fighting poverty and social inequality, and increasing trade between the participating countries. They also contribute to the expansion of the use of national currencies in mutual settlements. 

Cultural and humanitarian contacts. The BRICS members cooperate in the fields of research and innovation, science, culture, and exchange experiences, knowledge, and resources. This is how the BRICS Network University appeared, where the leading universities of the countries are in partnership and allow students to receive education in their own country and in the partner country. 

BRICS achievements 

Economic growth. Over the past decades, the BRICS countries have demonstrated outstanding economic growth. They are the engines of the global economy, and their contribution to total GDP continues to increase. China and India have become the main engines of this growth, and they have achieved impressive levels of industrialization and modernization of their economies. 

Trade and investment. The BRICS countries are the largest trading partners for each other and for many other countries around the world. The level of bilateral trade and foreign direct investment between these countries has increased significantly in recent years, which has contributed to the strengthening of economic ties. 

Banking system. The BRICS countries have established their own banks and financial institutions, such as the New Development Bank, which finances various projects in the participating countries. This enhances infrastructure development and support for projects that promote economic growth. 

Settlement of currency risks. BRICS is developing mechanisms for cooperation to address currency risks, which reduces dependence on the US dollar and other reserve currencies. 
Cooperation in science and technologies. These countries actively cooperate in the field of science and technology, which allows them to share experiences and technical knowledge, which, in turn, contributes to the development of national innovation sectors. 
What is the association doing now? 

The main area of BRICS work is changing every year. 

In 2025, BRICS focuses on: 

• on the foreign policy coordination of the participating states, because now there are disagreements between the countries on a number of issues, for example, between Iran and Saudi Arabia; 

• Resilience to the challenges of international and interregional security — cybercrime and cyberterrorism, internal armed conflicts, mass migration; 

• Increasing the importance of BRICS in the international monetary and financial system; 

• Development of national currencies in trade between BRICS members; 

• Strengthening the idea of a multipolar world. 

The BRICS members also pay great attention to the development of youth cooperation. The first International Olympiad of the BRICS countries will be held in 2025. Russia will also conduct educational missions in several new BRICS member countries to educate young people about the values and principles of unification.