Algeria is noticeably absent from the list of new BRICS members

On Aug 24, 2023

Six new member states have received invites from the BRICS alliance’s leaders; Algeria is conspicuously missing from the list.

Despite expressing open enthusiasm in doing so over the past year, the North African nation will not be joining the organization. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune confirmed that the nation had formally applied to join during a recent trip to China.

Tebboune’s absence at the BRICS summit in South Africa also drew attention because Algeria was anticipated to maintain its significant involvement with the organization.

Algeria’s potential membership in the group has been openly discussed by a number of government officials in the media over the last year. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated earlier this year that Algeria “possesses features and advantages that put it above the others looking to join BRICS group.”

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates are among the coalition’s new members, which represents a significant expansion aimed at promoting the interests of the “global south” and strengthening the coalition’s influence.

In the context of rising geopolitical tensions, the BRICS organization—which also consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—wants to raise its profile on the international scene.

Especially at a time when the global balance of power is experiencing substantial changes, the inclusion of the new nations may pave the way for more nations desiring to join BRICS.

According to a statement made by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the conference, the new members will formally join on January 1, 2024.

The BRICS coalition has historically struggled to portray a united agenda, limiting its efficacy as a significant participant on the international scene. The BRICS coalition accounts for close to 40% of the global population and a quarter of the global gross domestic product.22 nations have formally applied to join the BRICS, out of the more than 40 that have indicated interest.