BRICS adds 13 countries as 'Partners'

The BRICS group began to expand at last years summit in Johanesburg, and at the current summit it comprised nine members (with one additional semi-joined member, Saudi Arabia). Additionally, delegations from 24 further countries arrived in Kazan, with the total number of applications for accession exceeding 30. While no decisions on expansion were made at the current summit, a list of BRICS partner states was agreed upon. Prior to this, the concept did not exist within the association. However, the status of a partner country is recognised within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which includes three of the four founders of the global association. In the SCO, this status represents a step towards full membership of the organisation. It is evident that a similar process will occur in BRICS. It is important to note that not all partner states will necessarily be accepted into the organisation at the next summit. However, the majority will be, which will effectively expand the format of the association to that of an organisation, as Vladimir Putin has already observed.

So who exactly  has been granted this status. Approximately one-third of the applicants, representing 13 states, were successful. The list has not yet been officially published, although it has been agreed upon. It would appear that the final clarifications with the candidates are still underway. However, unofficially, it is already known which countries are in the running for BRICS membership.
The countries in question are Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
There were no formal restrictions for assigning partner status, except for those countries named by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov: countries that are good neighbours and do not participate in unilateral illegitimate sanctions against any of the BRICS countries. It is evident that each of the founding members of BRICS has its own preferences. Consequently, the assignment of partner status is contingent upon the consent of at least three BRICS pillars (Russia, China and India) and the new Islamic group within the organisation.
In light of the above, it is evident that the 13 partners in question are, in fact, the main candidates for entry. Furthermore, the composition of these groups is highly indicative.They can also be classified into several categories.
The first group comprises the three post-Soviet republics: The countries in question are Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. All of the aforementioned countries are essentially allies of Russia (although Uzbekistan does not formally have such a status), maintain friendly relations with China and have good relations with India.
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The second group comprises the countries of Southeast Asia, which are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This region is of significant strategic importance to China, is of great importance to India and is closely connected with Russia. Four ASEAN countries have been designated as partners: The countries in question are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. ASEAN is a key region for China, and there is a desire for other countries to join. For example, the President of Laos was in Kazan. It seems likely that Southeast Asia will soon join BRICS, taking the place of one of its supporting columns. This will add to the influence of China, Russia, India, Arab, African and Latin America.
The importance of ASEAN will continue to grow in the coming decades, not only due to its strategic location at the crossroads of global trade routes but also as a result of its pivotal role in American efforts to exert pressure on China. The countries of Southeast Asia are seeking to avoid being caught in the crossfire of the potential conflict between the USA and China. However, the pressure from the USA is pushing them towards rapprochement with the Russian-Chinese-Indian BRICS.

The third group is the Arab world. While Algeria is formally a member, Saudi Arabia, which is on the verge of joining BRICS, could be included. While Algeria has not yet formally joined the group, the other participants in the association believe that the issue of full accession will be resolved in the near future, given that it is not on the list of partners.Algeria should have been accepted into BRICS during the first expansion. However, its candidacy was rejected by India in favour of Ethiopia (and, apparently, partly due to French influence – Paris's relations with Algeria have once again worsened),

It is clear that the situation will be resolved in the near future, with Algeria becoming a full member of BRICS. This will result in a more representative Arab faction within the organisation, comprising Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Algeria. Additionally, several other countries in the Arab world, including Syria and Bahrain, are also in the process of joining.

The fourth group comprises countries in  Africa, namely Nigeria and Uganda. The choice is based on sound reasoning. Nigeria is the largest country in Africa by population and the second largest economy. It has evolved beyond its historical association with Anglo-Saxon influence. Uganda, under the leadership of former partisan Yoweri Museveni for over a third of a century, is an independent and self-confident African country with a strong relationship with Russia and China. With their inclusion, the African contingent will provide a formidable and influential presence within the BRICS alliance. The prospective members are South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia (the top three economies of  Africa) and Uganda. Furthermore, there are several additional candidates for entry.
The fifth group is Latin America. The final two candidates are Bolivia and Cuba. It is possible that Venezuela could have been included, but it seems that Brazil's position, whose president Lula is unhappy with the policies of Nicolás Maduro, may have played a role in this decision. In general, the situation with Latin America in BRICS is complex. Argentina had expressed a strong interest in joining the association, but following the change in government (with the pro-American Miley replacing the Peronists, who had been friendly to Russia and China), the country declined to participate. However, the inclusion of Cuba, a long-standing ally of Russia and China, and Bolivia, a country with significant economic potential, in the BRICS group demonstrates that Brazil is not the only country with global ambitions and a desire to expand its network of partners. It seems likely that Argentina will become a member of BRICS in the near future.
The 13th country, not part of any group, is NATO member Turkey. However, should it join, it could be classified as part of the Muslim faction of BRICS. The group currently comprises three Arab countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) and Iran. However, with the entry of the largest Islamic country by population, Indonesia, Malaysia, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, it will become the largest in BRICS by number of members. Of the 23 countries (current members plus all partners), nine will belong to the Islamic world, which further emphasises the significant role it has been assigned in shaping the new, post-Western world order. Furthermore, numerous other Muslim countries have indicated their intention to join the association.
It is evident that the growth and expansion of BRICS will be gradual, but the direction of movement and the meaning of the association are clear, and the course of history only serves to confirm its relevance. The key requirement for the movement's organisers at this stage is resilience. As Chinese leader Xi Jinping perceptively observed:
"In the context of a new era of global turbulence and transformation, we are confronted with a pivotal decision." It must be redirected back to the path of peaceful development. This recalls the book by the Russian writer Chernyshevsky, "What is to be done?", in which the main character demonstrated considerable resolve and determination in pursuing his objectives. Fortitude is a quality that is particularly valuable in the current circumstances. In challenging times, it is crucial to persevere in the face of adversity, demonstrating unwavering resolve, courage, and the agility to adapt to change.
In China, the acronym BRICS is written in hieroglyphs as "golden bricks". At the meeting in Kazan, new and very important elements were added to the construction of the foundation of the new world order.