Pakistan is making its intentions clear: it aims to join BRICS, the international bloc established to counter Western-dominated institutions. This move has raised concerns in India, as Pakistan's entry could further enhance China's influence within the group, potentially at India's expense.
Russia is publicly supporting Pakistan’s application. Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk expressed this backing during a meeting in Islamabad with Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, stating, “We are glad that Pakistan has applied. We will support this.”
According to Abhishek Sharma from the Observer Research Foundation in Delhi, India is unlikely to endorse Pakistan’s entry anytime soon. New BRICS members must maintain strong ties with all existing members and have significant trade relations, criteria that Pakistan currently does not meet.
Originally formed in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, BRICS expanded to include South Africa in 2010. More recently, countries such as Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia have joined the bloc. India has been focused on strengthening its Global South initiatives while garnering support from Western nations like the U.S., Germany, and Italy.
India perceives Pakistan's potential membership as a threat. BRICS wields considerable global influence, representing 40% of the world's population and controlling 31.5% of global GDP, compared to the G7’s 30.7%. The addition of new members is significant, with over 40 countries expressing interest in joining this year. Pakistan officially applied for membership in November 2023.
Under BRICS rules, membership decisions require unanimous consent. This means that if India objects to Pakistan’s entry, the application will stall. India remains wary of anything that could elevate China’s standing within BRICS, especially given China's already dominant role in the bloc.
Despite the challenges, Pakistan remains resolute in its pursuit of membership. The next BRICS summit, hosted by Russia in Kazan from October 22 to 24, will likely focus on expanding partnerships across various domains, including politics, security, economics, and culture. Yury Ushakov, a senior aide to President Putin, emphasized that de-dollarization and expansion will be top priorities for the upcoming summit.
October 2024, Cryptoniteuae