BRICS Summit Marks Bloc Expansion and Influence

The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan marked a significant moment for the expanded BRICS+ bloc, which now includes countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, and Iran, representing over 46% of the world's population. The summit highlighted BRICS' growing economic influence, with its GDP share exceeding 35% globally, surpassing the G7. The Kazan Declaration articulated a detailed vision for multilateralism, security, and economic cooperation, emphasizing a shift away from a US-led international order. Despite the summit's strong messages, internal rifts and hesitance among potential new members have stalled further expansion. The summit underscored BRICS' intention to challenge Western dominance, advocating for alternative global governance structures. However, notable absences and hesitations from countries like Argentina and Saudi Arabia reflect ongoing challenges in achieving consensus for broader expansion.