Originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009, these countries invited South Africa to join the political group a year later, when an “S” was added to the BRIC acronym. At the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg last month, six more nations joined the confederation.
The BRICS member nations collectively embody 42% of the world’s population, contributing to almost one-quarter of global gross domestic product and 18% of worldwide trade. The inclusion of smaller nations in the BRICS alliance, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia — nations that have historically been aligned with U.S. defense policy — should be especially troubling to American policymakers. Saudi Arabia, for instance, has long benefited from Washington’s protective umbrella, including during the 1991 Gulf War against Saddam Hussein.
Another development of concern is the inclusion of Iran at the recent BRICS annual meeting. A historical nemesis and national security threat to both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Iran illustrates the global realignment that is taking shape. That the rogue state has been responsible for funding proxy militias and violence across the Middle East, including in the deadly conflict against Saudi interests in Yemen, appears not to have phased members of the BRICS alliance.
But Mr. Katz is also correct that if the relationships between Iran and Saudi Arabia or Iran and the UAE revert to a state of discord, it could complicate efforts to find shared ground for consensus on admitting new Middle Eastern and North African members. Such a scenario could also impede BRICS members that are actively engaged in guiding discussions and fostering collaborative initiatives.
It’s worth noting that despite being a new BRICS member, Iran maintains substantial disagreements with Western countries. On the other hand, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to engage in significant security cooperation with the U.S., despite certain differences.