Palestine and Syria Application to BRICS

The BRICS is seeking new members for geopolitical reasons rather than economic ones.

Palestine and Syria have announced their applications to join the BRICS following an invitation from Russia. This news has drawn significant attention, as both countries deviate from the typical profiles of new members. Historically, BRICS has prioritised high-growth economies with strong development potential, as seen in its 2024 round of expansion, which included nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The admission criteria for new members in the 2024 round largely centred on business and economic considerations rather than geopolitical or ideological alignments. For instance, Algeria, despite its close ties to Russia and China, was denied admission due to its economic challenges.