By Ayo Kehinde
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran made good their bid for membership of the group of emerging market countries comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa known as BRICS by joining officially yesterday.
There is no sign yet whether the new membership would alter the acronym, BRICS, but what is certain for now is the new nations would expand it beyond its current state as 30% of the world’s land surface and 45% of the global population.
And consolidate their agenda of establishing deeper ties among member nations and cooperation on economic expansion, including trade.
Moreover, the new countries will strengthen BRICS resolve to act as a counterbalance to traditional Western influence.
Coming just 12 days before elections in Taiwan,which mainland China vows to annex as part of greater China, the expanded membership may cause some diplomatic ripples in the days ahead.
