Article 4 June 20, 2024  

Applying to join BRICS is not in Pakistan’s interest

Pakistan is too dependent on the United States right now to be part of an organisation espousing an anti-US, multipolar world order

Published on: HIMAL SouthAsian  02 Jan 2024, 8:19 am

On 23 November 2023, Pakistan formally applied to join BRICS, the presently five-nation bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A spokesperson from Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed the application, saying, “We believe that by joining BRICS, Pakistan can play an important role in furthering international cooperation and revitalising inclusive multilateralism. We also hope that BRICS will move forward on Pakistan’s request in line with its commitment to inclusive multilateralism”.

Pakistan is one of many countries flocking to BRICS against the backdrop of a new, multipolar world order. At the BRICS meeting in South Africa in August 2023, at least forty countries expressed interest in joining the group. At the end of the three-day summit, the bloc announced that six countries – Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran – would join BRICS in 2024. This is a move towards what is now being called “BRICS plus”.