For the first time since 2010, the BRICS group is expanding. 

Six countries have been invited to join the group. We’ll discuss what this means for the Global South. Chinese President Xi Jinping calls the expansion of BRICS, a group of emerging economies, historic and a new starting point for cooperation. 

Six countries are invited to join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as full members of the bloc in January.

They include Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Joining the discussion: 

• Elizabeth Sidiropoulos is the Chief Executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs.
• Anton Fedyashin is a Russian affairs expert and a Professor of History at American University.
• Otaviano Canuto is a Senior Fellow with Policy Center for the New South and former Vice President of the World Bank.
• Yan Liang is an Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics at Willamette University in Portland, Oregon.

BREAKING: Iran and Saudi Arabia are among six nations invited to join the BRICS bloc of developing economies. United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia are also set to join the bloc of developing economies from 2024. https://t.co/2oFHh4drUV

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 24, 2023

China's Xi pledges to support Africa's industrialisation at BRICS https://t.co/yBqVoXsVDt pic.twitter.com/VzuAxbuMav

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 24, 2023