In a year marked by seismic shifts in the global order, the BRICS alliance has emerged as a focal point of international attention, drawing more than 50 countries into its orbit and challenging the dominance of established Western-led institutions. As of August 27, 2025, this rapidly expanding bloc represents not only nearly half of the world’s population but also over 41% of global GDP, according to Watcher.Guru. The surge in interest—spanning continents from Asia to Europe and Africa—signals a profound transformation in international relations, with repercussions that reach far beyond the alliance’s founding members.
The latest to signal intent is Vietnam, which, as reported by Watcher.Guru, recently expressed interest in joining BRICS. This brings the tally to 23 nations with formal applications and an additional 28 countries expressing informal interest. The expansion is not just a matter of numbers; it’s a reshaping of the global economic and political landscape. Since its inception with five founding members, BRICS has added six new countries in less than a year: Indonesia (January 2025), Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, and most recently, Saudi Arabia in July 2025. With these additions, the alliance now counts 11 full members.
But the reach of BRICS extends even further. The group has cultivated a network of partner countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan, reflecting a strategic approach to global engagement. This web of partnerships underscores the widespread appeal of the bloc’s promise: greater economic sovereignty and a viable alternative to the Western-dominated international order.
Perhaps most striking is the interest from Europe. Despite significant pressure from Western capitals, three European nations—Belarus, Serbia, and Turkey—are actively pursuing BRICS membership. Belarus, in particular, has been outspoken in its desire to join, seeking economic alternatives amid ongoing Western sanctions. Turkey’s application, notable given its NATO membership, highlights the shifting allegiances and pragmatic calculations at play. Serbia, the first European country to express interest, exemplifies how the appeal of BRICS transcends traditional political alignments.
The momentum is equally robust across Asia and Africa. Countries such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Laos, Kuwait, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe have all indicated a desire to join. According to Watcher.Guru, Vietnam’s recent move is motivated by a quest for sovereignty and independence from Western-dominated institutions, a sentiment echoed by many in the Global South.
This groundswell of interest was a central topic at the July 2025 BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, where the alliance’s future expansion was hotly debated. While consensus on the pace of enlargement remains elusive, with China, Russia, and Iran advocating for rapid growth, the direction of travel is clear. As Brazilian President Lula da Silva declared during the summit, “We are witnessing an unprecedented collapse of multilateralism.” His statement, reported by Watcher.Guru, encapsulates the sense of urgency and historical significance felt by many within the bloc.
The United States, for its part, has responded with a mix of dismissal and economic pressure. Former President Donald Trump, never one to mince words, declared, “BRICS is dead,” even as he threatened 100% tariffs in response to the alliance’s expansion. Yet, the continued growth of BRICS and the steady stream of membership applications suggest that reports of its demise are, at best, premature. The organization’s ability to attract countries seeking alternatives to dollar-dominated trade is a testament to its growing influence and the shifting tides of global power.
These geopolitical tremors are being felt most acutely in India, a founding BRICS member now caught in the crossfire of U.S. tariff threats and its own efforts to diversify alliances. As Reuters reports, the clock is ticking for India, with a 25% additional levy on shipments to the U.S. set to take effect on August 27, and the Trump administration signaling that tariffs could climb as high as 50%. In response, New Delhi has pivoted toward mending ties with China, a move underscored by the recent agreement to restart direct flights suspended since the 2020 border clashes. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed his attendance at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, where he will join more than 20 world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
China has not hesitated to express solidarity with India in the face of U.S. trade pressure. “China opposes Washington’s steep tariffs on India and will firmly stand with India,” Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong said in mid-August, as reported by Reuters. Despite these overtures, analysts caution that deep-seated tensions—ranging from trade imbalances to security concerns—continue to complicate the Sino-Indian relationship. As Shilan Shah of Capital Economics noted, “There are several strains within the India-China relationship that would be hard to overcome. An influx of cheap Chinese imports is undermining India’s efforts to strengthen its domestic industry. And the biggest constraint on stronger relations is the view within India that China poses a threat to national security.”
India’s diplomatic balancing act extends to Russia as well. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Moscow is a reminder of the enduring ties between the two countries, which have remained remarkably steady since World War Two. India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, even in the face of U.S. tariff threats, highlights its determination to maintain strategic autonomy.
On the economic front, Indian markets have responded with surprising calm. The Nifty 50 index has remained flat over the past month, and the rupee’s decline has been limited to about 1%. With $695 billion in foreign currency reserves and an actively intervening central bank, India appears well-positioned to weather the immediate fallout. Fitch Ratings, for its part, retained India’s sovereign rating on August 25, citing only a moderate risk from higher U.S. tariffs and forecasting 6.5% GDP growth for the year. To further insulate the economy, Prime Minister Modi’s government is fast-tracking tax reforms, scheduled for a vote in early September, and facing little public opposition.
Yet, not all recent developments have been market-friendly. India’s parliament has approved a ban on online games played with money, citing psychological and financial harm, particularly among young and lower-income individuals. The move has rattled the burgeoning online gaming industry and even jeopardized a major cricket sponsorship deal.
As BRICS continues its dramatic expansion and the world’s geopolitical plates shift, the coming months promise further realignments and challenges. For now, the alliance’s ability to attract new members—and the responses of established powers—will shape the contours of the emerging global order.