President of Brazil Lula da Silva, President of China Xi Jinping, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, in a photograph at the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 22, 2023. Image by Presidential Press and Information Office from Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain Mark 1.0). In recent years, the BRICS group of nations, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has emerged as a formidable presence in the global economy. With the significant strides achieved by the group, an increasing number of African countries have expressed a keen interest in becoming part of this influential alliance. Analysts’ opinions regarding the tangible accomplishments of BRICS since its establishment in 2009 diverge. While one analyst maintains a wait-and-see approach to assess the group's future potential, another asserts that BRICS has already surpassed expectations. However, some voices emphasize the need for a more realistic roadmap for the group. In 2014, the BRICS nations established the New Development Bank (NDB), infusing it with an initial investment of USD 50 billion. This financial institution was conceived as an alternative to the dominant Western institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which have faced criticism for imposing stringent economic policies on developing nations. The NDB offers member countries a counterbalance, providing access to development financing without the constrictions associated with the World Bank and the IMF. In conjunction with this, the BRICS nations introduced the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, designed to offer financial aid to member states grappling with payment issues during times of economic turmoil. This year's BRICS summit, being held in Johannesburg from August 22-24, is expected to center around the discussion of expanding the group's membership. However, concerns arise as not all current members appear to support this expansion. A South China Morning Post report reveals that India and Brazil are apprehensive about the prospect because of fears of diluting their existing influence within the bloc. India is particularly cautious, given that the inclusion of new members could potentially amplify China's strategic influence, especially as Beijing maintains close ties with some of the potential new entrants, which include Algeria, Iran, Argentina, Ethiopia and Nigeria. An intriguing facet to acknowledge is the dynamics of Russia and China, prominent BRICS members, as they strive to shape the alliance's agenda. Both nations perceive themselves as ensnared and isolated by the containment strategies employed by the U.S. and its allies, with China confronting a hostile alliance in its vicinity and Russia contending with anti-Russia alliances in Eastern Europe. Additionally, economic actions aimed at curbing their influence, such as the U.S.-China trade war and sanctions on Russia, have propelled the traction of the BRICS idea. For Russia and China, BRICS serves as a countermeasure against U.S. containment efforts. In 2010, South Africa became the first African country to join the BRICS group. Since its inclusion, it has been active in promoting the expansion of the alliance to include other African countries. The current BRICS chair, South Africa, revealed in this report on VOA News that over 40 nations have expressed interest in joining the alliance, showcasing the growing appeal of this bloc. Ethiopia has demonstrated a strong desire to join BRICS. On June 29, this year, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially announced the submission of an application to join the consortium of developing nations within BRICS. An article by The Conversation sheds light on the strategic reasons why Ethiopia is interested in joining BRICS. Firstly, its deteriorating relations with Western powers because of human rights concerns could be a reason for seeking BRICS membership, as it would make the country more strategically important and potentially encourage Western powers to downplay Ethiopia's human rights issues. Secondly, with a rapidly growing economy, Ethiopia seeks alternative avenues for growth, especially in its strong economic ties with China and India. Joining BRICS could enhance cooperation and attract investments. Thirdly, by joining BRICS, Ethiopia might gain greater leverage in negotiations with the IMF and potentially be part of a challenge to the dominance of the U.S. dollar through the creation of a new BRICS currency. Fourthly, BRICS powers generally support non-interference in the affairs of other states.