ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office said on Friday the country would examine “latest developments” to decide on its future engagement with the BRICS group of developing nations, a day after the bloc invited Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates as new members.
The 15th BRICS summit concluded in Johannesburg on Thursday, with the bloc’s expansion a top agenda item, aimed at growing the clout of an alliance that has pledged to champion the “Global South.”
“Pakistan is an ardent supporter of multilaterism and as a member of several multilateral organizations it has always played an important role for global peace and development,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was quoted by state-run Radio Pakistan as saying in response to reporters’ question about Islamabad’s future plans to apply for BRICS membership.
“Pakistan will examine the latest developments and make a determination about its future engagement with the Group.”
The bloc was founded as an informal club in 2009 to provide a platform for its members to challenge a world order dominated by the United States and its Western allies. Apart from geopolitics, the group’s focus includes economic cooperation and increasing multilateral trade and development.
Its creation was initiated by Russia, with Brazil, Russia, India and China as founding members.
South Africa, the smallest member in terms of economic clout and population, was the first beneficiary of an expansion of the bloc in 2010 when the grouping became known as BRICS.
Over 40 countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Algeria, Bolivia, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Gabon, and Kazakhstan have expressed interest in joining the forum, according to 2023 summit chair South Africa.
They view BRICS as an alternative to global bodies viewed as dominated by the traditional Western powers and hope membership will unlock benefits including development finance, and increased trade and investment.
