Several dozen countries are seeking to join the BRICS group of major emerging economies, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday at a conference in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok.
“Other countries are seeking joining BRICS. We can say there are already several dozens of them, including those from our region — Thailand, Vietnam and a number of other countries,” Medvedev said at the plenary session of the International Inter-Party Forum of the United Russia party on the BRICS role in building a new multipolar world order.
BRICS was established in 2009 as a cooperation platform for the largest emerging economies, uniting Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined the group in 2010. Russia assumed the bloc's rotating presidency on January 1. On the same day, BRICS expanded its membership to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.