BRICS has 11 members and a queue of 30-plus more. Here’s who’s most likely to join next
Cooperation areas
Source: Business Today | Original Published At: 2026-09-11 13:18:00 UTC
Key Points
- More than 30 nations have formally applied or expressed interest in joining BRICS as full members.
- Expansion is explicitly on the agenda at the September 12-13 New Delhi summit, where a second batch of admissions could be decided.
- Turkey formally applied to join BRICS in September 2024 and has been seeking China's support for its bid ahead of the 2026 expansion decision.
- Azerbaijan formally announced its BRICS membership application on August 20, 2024, after China publicly endorsed its bid.
- India has called Nigeria a strategic partner and positioned it as a leading African candidate for the next expansion round, separate from its existing BRICS partner-country status.
- Argentina was invited to join during the 2023-24 expansion round but declined in late 2023, while Algeria later withdrew its separate bid for full BRICS membership.