India's friendly country becomes new member of BRICS, PM Modi said – this expansion is a message for all global institutions

It has been decided to include six new countries in the BRICS organization Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Iran, Ethiopia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt have been invited as new members from January 1, 2024, at a meeting of heads of BRICS countries in Johannesburg.

Apart from these countries, the way has been kept open for more members in BRICS. India has very good relations with all the countries that have been included. Among these, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are India's old strategic partners, while relations with Egypt have recently been accorded strategic status. Iran is also a permanent friend of India.

Along with making new members, in the declaration issued by the BRICS countries, an appeal has also been made for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and to ensure a greater role for India and some other countries in the UNSC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended the summit, played a key role in agreeing on the inclusion of new countries and ensuring that countries of strategic interest to India find a place in it. This is India's diplomacy to coordinate between global powers while serving its national interests. On one hand, India is a member of the Quad along with America. At the same time, it is also an important member of the BRICS initiated by China.

Prime Minister Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Lula de Silva, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were present when the BRICS expansion was announced, while Russian President Vladimir Putin joined virtually. India is one of the earliest members of BRICS.

Modi described the BRICS expansion as a timely decision and said that it would give proper representation to developing and poor countries. Referring to India's old relations with all the new members of BRICS, he hoped that with the arrival of new members of BRICS, this organization would be more functional and dynamic.

India is in favor of major changes in the existing global institutions so that it can get its rightful place on the global stage. Modi also said on Thursday, 'BRICS expansion should be taken as a message of changing times by all global institutions.' Prime Minister Modi has participated in several conferences organized under the BRICS organization on 22, 23, and 24 August.

It is believed that India, along with South Africa and Brazil, has put pressure on China, then the joint statement included the talk of making major changes in global agencies including UNSC, and giving a bigger role to these three countries.

It is believed that an attempt was made by China to include Pakistan in BRICS as well, but due to a lack of support from India, the matter could not progress further. At the same time, now that BRICS countries have indicated to include more countries as members, the doors of this organization can be opened for Pakistan as well.

Pakistan has expressed its desire to become a member of BRICS many times in the past and has also indicated to India that it is unable to become a member because of one country. In the declaration issued by BRICS on Thursday, the things that have been said about taking steps against terrorism are also an indication of Pakistan.

It states, 'The international community is appealed to take effective steps to curb terrorism. BRICS countries reject double standards towards terrorism. BRICS countries have talked about further strengthening mutual cooperation against terrorism. Sources reveal that it was India's proposal to include terrorism in the joint declaration.