Historical Organization
BRICS
BRICS
Details
Organization Timeline
South Africa joins the BRIC grouping
📅 24 December 2010After the invitation, South Africa became the fifth member and the forum adopted the name BRICS. Its entry gave Africa a direct place in the leaders’ meetings.
Fortaleza summit agrees on an African regional centre for the bank
📅 15 July 2014The leaders decided that the new bank would be headquartered in Shanghai and would establish an African regional centre in South Africa.
BRICS sign Contingent Reserve Arrangement treaty
📅 15 July 2014The five states signed a separate mutual reserve arrangement designed to help members facing short-term balance-of-payments pressure.
Five governments sign New Development Bank agreement
📅 15 July 2014The founding agreement established a bank to mobilize finance for infrastructure and sustainable development in BRICS and other emerging and developing countries.
BRICS leaders hold outreach meeting with South American leaders
📅 16 July 2014In Brasília, the five BRICS leaders met heads of government from South America, extending dialogue on development and regional cooperation.
Ufa leaders affirm a broader voice for developing countries
📅 9 July 2015The Ufa Declaration called for more representative international institutions and linked BRICS cooperation to development and a multipolar world order.
Ufa summit adopts the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership
📅 9 July 2015The leaders adopted a cooperation strategy covering trade, investment, manufacturing and other areas, aiming to coordinate development priorities among the five countries.
BRICS leaders engage BIMSTEC countries at Goa
📅 16 October 2016The outreach connected the five members with Bay of Bengal countries in a development dialogue without changing BRICS membership.
Goa summit adopts a declaration on inclusive cooperation
📅 16 October 2016Leaders addressed development, international governance and the need for responsive and collective solutions to shared challenges.
Xiamen summit adopts leaders’ declaration
📅 4 September 2017BRICS leaders reaffirmed development cooperation, more representative international governance and continued engagement with emerging economies.
BRICS Plus dialogue meets with other developing countries
📅 5 September 2017Xiamen hosted a dialogue with invited emerging and developing countries on development cooperation and implementation of the 2030 Agenda; attendance did not mean BRICS membership.
Johannesburg Declaration calls for inclusive technological development
📅 27 July 2018At the tenth summit, leaders placed Africa, inclusive growth and the Fourth Industrial Revolution at the centre of the agenda.
BRICS leaders call for stronger African representation at the UN
📅 27 July 2018The Johannesburg Declaration said African states remained inadequately represented in the United Nations, especially in peace and security decision making.
Johannesburg summit welcomes BRICS–Africa and BRICS Plus outreach
📅 27 July 2018Leaders endorsed dialogue with African and other developing-country partners, distinct from admitting new BRICS members.
Brasília summit adopts declaration on an innovative future
📅 14 November 2019The eleventh summit addressed economic growth, innovation, multilateralism and cooperation among the five members.
Virtual BRICS summit adopts Moscow Declaration
📅 17 November 2020The twelfth summit addressed the pandemic, international economic recovery, security and continued cooperation among the five countries.
BRICS adopts Economic Partnership Strategy through 2025
📅 17 November 2020The strategy set medium-term cooperation priorities in trade, investment, finance and the digital economy.
BRICS leaders welcome joint satellite and agricultural plans
📅 9 September 2021The declaration welcomed the signed remote-sensing cooperation agreement and plans for agricultural and innovation cooperation. It recorded multiple tracks beyond finance.
New Delhi summit adopts leaders’ declaration
📅 9 September 2021The virtual summit maintained cooperation in public health, economic recovery and multilateral governance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BRICS leaders call for fairer international representation
📅 9 September 2021The Delhi Declaration sought a more inclusive and representative multipolar order with the United Nations at its centre.
BRICS backs fairer access to health products
📅 23 June 2022The Beijing Declaration called for affordable vaccines, diagnostics and medicines, local production capacity in developing countries and greater readiness for future health emergencies.
BRICS leaders set a process for considering expansion
📅 23 June 2022The declaration supported discussion of guiding principles, criteria and procedures for possible expansion through the Sherpas. It did not yet admit new BRICS members.
Beijing summit adopts leaders’ declaration
📅 23 June 2022The virtual summit addressed global governance, public health, sustainable development and cooperation among the five member countries.
BRICS endorses African development and trade integration
📅 23 June 2022Leaders supported the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and Africa’s work toward the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Global Development Dialogue broadens BRICS outreach
📅 24 June 2022Leaders from BRICS and other developing countries discussed cooperation to implement the UN 2030 Agenda. Participation in the dialogue did not constitute BRICS membership.
Johannesburg II Declaration sets a Global South agenda
📅 23 August 2023At the summit in South Africa, leaders placed African development, inclusive multilateralism and sustainable growth at the centre of BRICS cooperation.
BRICS declaration calls for reform of global institutions
📅 23 August 2023Leaders sought stronger developing-country representation in the UN and international financial institutions, including a larger voice in IMF governance.
BRICS endorses African industrialization and AfCFTA
📅 23 August 2023The declaration connected African trade integration with infrastructure, local value addition and moving beyond dependence on commodity exports.
Johannesburg leaders endorse a small-business framework
📅 23 August 2023The BRICS MSMEs Cooperation Framework emphasized access to finance, skills and cross-border networks, with particular attention to women- and youth-owned firms.
Johannesburg declaration sets principles for expansion
📅 23 August 2023The five members reached consensus on criteria and procedures for expansion and recorded invitations to six states to become members from January 2024. Invitation and entry are different milestones.
Ramaphosa announces six BRICS membership invitations
📅 24 August 2023South Africa’s president publicly named Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as invitees for membership from January 2024. Their eventual status required separate verification.
BRICS–Africa and BRICS Plus outreach brings leaders together
📅 24 August 2023Invited leaders from Africa and the wider Global South joined a dialogue on development and more representative global governance. Attendance did not itself confer BRICS membership.
Egypt enters the expanded BRICS grouping
📅 1 January 2024Egypt joined the leaders’ grouping following the Johannesburg invitation. This is separate from its earlier entry into the New Development Bank.
Ethiopia enters the expanded BRICS grouping
📅 1 January 2024Ethiopia joined as the group expanded its representation in Africa beyond South Africa and Egypt.
Iran enters the expanded BRICS grouping
📅 1 January 2024Iran joined the group following the Johannesburg invitation, broadening participation from West Asia.
UAE enters the expanded BRICS grouping
📅 1 January 2024The UAE joined BRICS following its 2023 invitation. It had separately become an NDB member in 2021.
BRICS agrees to study a possible BRICS Clear system
📅 23 October 2024Leaders called for a feasibility study of cross-border settlement and depositary infrastructure. A study proposal was not an operational system.
Kazan leaders call for a Gaza ceasefire and aid
📅 23 October 2024The declaration called for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access and support for Palestinian statehood while noting South Africa’s case before the International Court of Justice.
BRICS discusses voluntary cross-border payment cooperation
📅 23 October 2024The declaration welcomed local-currency settlements and a voluntary, non-binding payments initiative. It did not launch a common BRICS currency.
Kazan declaration backs local-currency NDB financing
📅 23 October 2024Leaders encouraged the development bank to expand local-currency financing and mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainability.
BRICS welcomes proposed grain trading platform
📅 23 October 2024The declaration welcomed a Russian initiative for a grain exchange to support agricultural trade and food security. The exchange was a proposal.
BRICS supports UN-centred tax cooperation
📅 23 October 2024Leaders welcomed work toward a UN framework convention on international tax cooperation, aiming for a more inclusive voice in tax rules.
Kazan declaration calls for greater developing-country voice at the UN
📅 23 October 2024Leaders sought more meaningful representation for Africa, Asia and Latin America in international decisions, including UN Security Council reform.
BRICS establishes partner-country category
📅 23 October 2024The Kazan Declaration endorsed modalities for a category through which other emerging and developing countries could cooperate without becoming full members.
Kazan summit adopts declaration after enlargement
📅 23 October 2024The leaders placed more representative global governance, sustainable development and cooperation among the expanded membership at the centre of the summit.
Brazil assumes BRICS presidency
📅 1 January 2025Brazil began its annual chairship with priorities of global governance reform and cooperation among countries of the Global South.
Eight countries begin BRICS partner status
📅 1 January 2025Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan took part in the new partner category. This status was separate from full membership.
Indonesia is announced as a full BRICS member
📅 6 January 2025Brazil’s chairship announced Indonesia’s formal entry, bringing Southeast Asia into the full membership after earlier expansion discussions.
Nigeria becomes a BRICS partner country
📅 17 January 2025Brazil welcomed Nigeria’s acceptance of partner status, widening African participation without making it a full BRICS member.
BRICS climate leaders adopt joint declaration
📅 28 May 2025The high-level meeting advanced coordinated climate action, energy transition and more equitable climate finance ahead of the Rio summit and COP30.
Vietnam becomes a BRICS partner country
📅 13 June 2025Brazil announced Vietnam’s formal admission to the partner category. It was the tenth partner, not a full member.
Rio summit adopts leaders’ declaration
📅 6 July 2025Leaders of the expanded group adopted a wide-ranging declaration on cooperation, more representative governance, sustainable development and peace.
BRICS leaders endorse principles for AI governance
📅 6 July 2025The summit called for more equitable access to artificial intelligence and stronger representation for developing countries in global rules.
BRICS supports tropical-forest financing proposal
📅 6 July 2025Leaders endorsed support for Brazil’s proposed Tropical Forests Forever Fund as a way to reward forest conservation; support was distinct from a fund already paying out.
BRICS leaders issue climate-finance framework declaration
📅 7 July 2025The leaders called for fairer financing and more support for adaptation in developing countries, including reforms to the international financial system.
India launches BRICS chairship theme and website
📅 13 January 2026India presented its 2026 logo and theme, Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability, setting priorities for its chairship.
BRICS foreign policy dialogue convenes
📅 5 June 2026India hosted the eleventh BRICS Foreign Policy Dialogue, extending consultation among the members before the September summit.
BRICS sets out principles for critical minerals
📅 12 September 2026The declaration called for fair supply chains, benefit sharing and value addition in resource-rich countries while preserving sovereignty over mineral resources.
BRICS addresses small-business access to trade finance
📅 12 September 2026Leaders welcomed principles for assessing export-oriented MSME credit and a Jaipur agreement to study invoice discounting for working capital. The financing mechanism was a study, not a live...
BRICS encourages research in traditional medicine
📅 12 September 2026The declaration welcomed a proposed expert working group on traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, with attention to evidence, quality and safety.
BRICS explores faster cross-border payments
📅 12 September 2026Leaders recognized task-force work on interoperability and local-currency settlements, inviting further discussion of accessible low-cost payment options; no single BRICS currency was launched.
BRICS calls for a just and nationally grounded energy transition
📅 12 September 2026Leaders recognized varied national energy needs and common but differentiated responsibilities while supporting energy security and lower emissions.
BRICS continues discussion of grain trading platform
📅 12 September 2026Leaders acknowledged further work on the proposed BRICS Grain Exchange and food reserves and drought-resilient seeds. The exchange remained under discussion.
BRICS supports China’s next chairship
📅 12 September 2026The leaders expressed support for China to chair BRICS in 2027 and host its next summit.
BRICS considers a shared insurance resilience platform
📅 12 September 2026The declaration noted voluntary discussions of an Insurance Resilience Centre and an Indian proposal for a Risk Lab, without saying either was operational.
BRICS calls for inclusive tax cooperation
📅 12 September 2026Leaders backed work on a UN tax convention and welcomed working groups on transfer pricing and revenue statistics and networks for tax knowledge sharing.
BRICS welcomes a development knowledge portal
📅 12 September 2026The declaration welcomed a BRICS–NDB portal to share development experiences, policy lessons and projects across chairships.
BRICS supports local-currency development finance
📅 12 September 2026Leaders urged the NDB to diversify funding sources and expand local-currency finance for infrastructure, sustainability and development priorities.
BRICS backs restitution of cultural heritage
📅 12 September 2026The declaration called for the return of heritage and objects of spiritual, ancestral, historical and cultural value to countries of origin, as well as cooperation among museums and archives.
BRICS supports forest and land restoration
📅 12 September 2026Leaders welcomed common principles for landscape greening and wildfire preparedness while recognizing the conservation role of tropical forests and mangroves.
BRICS emphasizes developing-country voice at G20
📅 12 September 2026The declaration linked consecutive G20 presidencies of Indonesia, India, Brazil and South Africa to a stronger Global South voice in global economic governance.
BRICS endorses healthy-lifestyle mission
📅 12 September 2026Leaders endorsed a mission and a 2026–2029 roadmap for healthy lifestyles and supported cooperative mental-health capacity building.
BRICS calls for a ceasefire in Sudan
📅 12 September 2026Leaders called for a permanent ceasefire, urgent humanitarian access and an African-led basis for conflict resolution.
BRICS backs Palestinian rights and humanitarian access
📅 12 September 2026The declaration supported Palestinian self-determination and return, opposed forced displacement, and called for aid access in Gaza and full respect for UNRWA’s mandate.
BRICS opposes unlawful unilateral sanctions
📅 12 September 2026The declaration criticized unilateral coercive measures contrary to international law and identified harm to development, health and food security in targeted states.
BRICS supports fairer multilateral trade rules
📅 12 September 2026Leaders reaffirmed WTO reform, special and differential treatment for developing members, and Ethiopia’s and Iran’s WTO accession bids.
BRICS discusses a panel on global inequality
📅 12 September 2026The declaration noted a South Africa–Brazil proposal for an international panel on inequality while treating poverty reduction as central to sustainable development. It did not announce an established...
BRICS backs decolonization and action against racism
📅 12 September 2026Leaders welcomed a UN resolution on enslavement of Africans and urged implementation of a UN resolution to eradicate colonialism in all its forms.
BRICS calls for UN Security Council reform
📅 12 September 2026The declaration supported stronger representation for developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, and recognized African aspirations in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
BRICS recalls the Bandung spirit
📅 12 September 2026Leaders cited the 1955 Asian-African Conference and its principles of equality, independence, non-intervention and mutual benefit as a guide to more inclusive multilateralism.
New Delhi declaration affirms a more representative order
📅 12 September 2026The summit declaration sought a fairer, more representative multilateral system and meaningful participation for emerging and developing countries.
Eighteenth BRICS summit opens in New Delhi
📅 12 September 2026Leaders gathered for the 12–13 September summit under India’s theme of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
BRICS discussion extends July health ministers’ agreement
📅 14 September 2026Publication date: WHO connects the leaders’ declaration to the July 2026 meeting of BRICS health ministers.
Leaders connect medical traditions to evidence standards
📅 14 September 2026Publication date: WHO describes a commitment to appropriate evidence and regulation.
New Delhi declaration raises knowledge sharing
📅 14 September 2026Publication date: the WHO account links BRICS cooperation to research and exchange of traditional medicine knowledge.
WHO reports BRICS traditional medicine commitment
📅 14 September 2026Publication date: WHO described commitments to traditional medicine in a New Delhi leaders’ declaration.