Pakistan shows no interest in BRICS membership

Islamabad: Pakistan has refrained from initiating any formal application to join BRICS, the alliance comprising prominent developing nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Officials from Pakistan have indicated that the country remains uninterested in becoming a part of bloc politics.

Representing a combined 40 percent of the global population and a quarter of the world’s GDP, BRICS holds substantial influence on the international stage.

However, leading up to the ongoing summit, certain Indian media outlets asserted that China was advocating for Pakistan’s inclusion in BRICS—an initiative that faced opposition from New Delhi.

What is BRICS, which countries want to join and why?

Behind-the-scenes discussions with foreign office officials in Islamabad suggest that while Pakistan is closely observing developments within BRICS, the nation has yet to finalize its stance on joining the alliance, as reported by The Express Tribune.

An unnamed official remarked, “I believe the Indian media is narrowly interpreting China and Russia’s ambitions for BRICS expansion.” This official indicated that the primary consideration lies in BRICS’ own decision regarding expansion, with talks of Pakistan or any other nation joining the alliance coming subsequently.

“At present, I can confirm that Pakistan has not engaged in discussions on this matter,” the official added.

This cautious approach by Pakistani authorities hints at the nation’s reluctance to engage in bloc politics. Notably, Russia and China have demonstrated a clear intention to leverage BRICS as a countermeasure to the G-7—an assemblage of influential developed economies.

Leaders of the BRICS nations have convened in Johannesburg for a three-day summit. This gathering holds particular significance as it marks a period of heightened attention since the alliance’s inception in 2009. Western capitals are showing intensified interest, largely driven by concerns that Russia and China, influential players within BRICS, are seeking to expand their roles to challenge the dominance of the US and Western-led global financial systems.

During the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for solidarity among BRICS partners as he advocated for broadening the alliance’s scope in response to the current “turbulent and transformative” global landscape.

China, a major player within the bloc, has long championed its expansion efforts. The deteriorating relations with Washington and escalating global tensions stemming from conflicts such as the Ukraine war have added impetus to China’s push for enlargement.

South African officials assert that over 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, with 22 submitting formal admission requests.