After being invited to join the BRICS last year, Saudi Arabia is still thinking about accepting an invitation, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Thursday.
In August, the group extended an offer to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, Argentina, and Ethiopia to join effective January 1. However, in November, Argentina indicated that it would not accept the invitation. The two sources added that there were significant advantages to joining the group because China and India are members and the two countries are the kingdom’s top commercial partners. They stated that January 1 was not a timetable for a decision.
“Saudi Arabia is assessing the benefits and then will make a decision, there is a process happening,” one of the sources said.
With more members, the BRICS—which presently consist of China, Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa—would have greater economic clout. Additionally, it might intensify its stated goal of being an advocate for the Global South.
Saudi Arabia is debating joining the alliance at a time when geopolitical tensions between the United States, China, and Russia are on the rise and the kingdom’s improving relations with Beijing have alarmed Washington.
The commerce minister of Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday at a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos that his country had not joined the BRICS.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, responded to the minister’s remarks by saying that Saudi Arabia’s integration into the BRIC countries was crucial work that was still ongoing on Wednesday.
The UAE, a fellow member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), announced on its ministry of international affairs that it had accepted the offer and joined the group.
