No other organization has as many countries aspiring to join as BRICS—40 in addition to the 10 current members—and this is far from the limit. Recently, this acronym, which was almost born as a joke in the mind of a Western analyst, has gained a life of its own and essentially earned the authority of the most influential and attractive integration group of modern times. Given that “bricks” in English refers to building blocks, many genuinely perceive this name as a collection of construction elements laying the foundation for a new world order.
Not only in the Global South but also in areas of stable Western influence, the surge of interest in BRICS underscores the need for an engine of equal integration and the desire of many countries to participate in the rapid transformation of the international order. The organizers of the upcoming BRICS summit, scheduled for October 22-24, 2024, in Kazan, face a truly difficult task: to focus on uniting the existing members or go for another mass expansion so as not to alienate all those eager to join.
One of the most delicate issues remains the application of NATO member Turkey. Turkey is treating this process with utmost seriousness, going beyond mere declarations that may serve as a diplomatic tool in its complex relations with its North Atlantic Alliance partners. Ankara has fulfilled all the necessary formal requirements for submitting an official application and constantly emphasizes that joining BRICS is its strategic choice. Turkish experts argue that such determination fits well into the “centuries-old fundamental foundations of Ottoman policy.”
For example, the publication Yeni Safak writes: Turkey’s willingness to join BRICS reflects the concept of ‘balance policy,’ which the Ottoman Empire successfully applied for centuries in the modern world, and is a sign of the country’s efforts to restore its position among world powers. By joining BRICS, Turkey hopes to play a more active role in the global economy, diversify its trade partnerships, and “act more independently on the international stage, where the Anglo-American system dominates.” However, the fact that Turkey is a NATO member and that negotiations on EU membership continue requires careful diplomatic balancing between the West and BRICS, according to Turks. “Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, authoritative, and effective country if it simultaneously improves its relations with both East and West,” President Erdogan stated. “Any other method will not benefit Turkey and will harm it.”
Azerbaijan’s application, a country close to Ankara, also appears interesting. It is not just about the fact that Azerbaijan is an important link in the BRICS and Russia’s strategic “North-South” route. From 2019 to 2024, following the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Baku, Azerbaijan chaired this once highly influential but still morally authoritative international organization (with 120 member states). Starting this year, the chairmanship has passed from Azerbaijan’s leader, Ilham Aliyev, to Uganda and its president, Museveni.
Despite respect for Museveni, it’s hard to imagine that the movement will maintain its former dynamism in the upcoming period. NAM has always lacked, and still lacks, a strong economic component. In certain ways, one can view BRICS as a logical continuation of NAM’s principles, albeit under new historical circumstances and with a distinct material foundation, providing a significantly more secure future. Therefore, the joining of Azerbaijan, one of NAM’s modern leaders, to BRICS could have symbolic significance. Incidentally, Russia and China have official observer status at NAM, indicating that they share its ideals. It is also important to mention that India is one of the founding fathers of NAM and also BRICS. Whether these two organizations should fully merge is a big question. In the rush for quantity, quality could be lost. Clearly, it is essential to maintain and strengthen the core first, while other “candidates” could gradually join BRICS in stages. This practice exists in many other integration groups.
Surprisingly, interest in joining BRICS has emerged even in the world’s most developed countries. Although Europe has not yet submitted any official applications, discussions are currently taking place in several of its countries. For instance, Switzerland’s leading foreign policy publication Weltwoche (circulation 80,000) published an article asserting, with typical Swiss seriousness and pragmatism, that it would be “more advantageous for Switzerland to cooperate with BRICS than with the European Union.” The article points out that BRICS represents over 45% of the world’s population (compared to 9.6% in G7 countries), and in all key economic indicators, BRICS already surpasses the G7. The goal of BRICS is to create a multipolar world independent of dollar-driven limitations. BRICS members effectively pursue this goal by striving to use their national currencies in transactions. Eventually, the creation of a BRICS currency is inevitable, with the potential for gold backing to mitigate trade balance deficits. For Switzerland, joining BRICS would be a golden ticket, as this platform, which held more than 200 meetings in 2024 alone, will slowly but surely change the world without attempting to dictate the policies of its member states, as the EU does. The publication claims that “joining BRICS would be an excellent way for Switzerland to return to its traditional neutrality.” Of course, one could dismiss this position as merely the author’s opinion. But not long ago, the appearance of such an article in Switzerland’s “respectable” press would have been unthinkable.
The Swiss readers’ comments on the publication are intriguing, with many unexpectedly supporting its viewpoint. One of them writes, for example: “Due to our servitude to the USA and the EU, thanks to our outstanding politicians, Switzerland has long turned into a corrupt, opportunistic nation.” The country’s politicians in government and parliament “sacrificed Switzerland’s values, dignity, and pride to these two pillars of the Western world.” In contrast, joining BRICS would be a liberating blow to the relationship of subjugation to the USA and the EU, established under the guise of friendship and shared values.”
It is expected that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will attend the BRICS summit in Kazan as a guest. Other European names might also make an appearance, but they haven’t revealed their identities yet to prevent any hindrance or attacks. In any case, the upcoming event will undoubtedly mark a significant milestone in the formation of a more just world order.