- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says interest in joining BRICS remains high despite US pressure and tariff threats
- A total of 45 countries have applied for BRICS membership since the first expansion in 2024, with 23 submitting formal applications
- Lavrov emphasized that emerging economies see BRICS as a prototype of a future multipolar world order beyond Washington’s influence
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a recent interview that many countries are still expressing strong interest in joining the BRICS alliance, following India’s successful Hosting of the 18th summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026. Russia had backed Bangladesh’s candidature for membership, though the bloc is still weighing the pros and cons of admitting new members.
“There is interest, as people understand that BRICS is a prototype of the future multipolar world order,” Lavrov stated, according to Russian state media TASS. He stressed that developing countries remain fully interested despite the US threatening tariffs on nations that pursue membership.
“I do not see any decline in interest in BRICS as a result of pressure from Western countries, which, especially the United States, have publicly declared BRICS public enemy number one to progress,” Lavrov added. He further noted that emerging economies view US tariffs, sanctions, and rising national debt as deterrents to their own growth.
A total of 45 countries have applied for BRICS membership since the first expansion in 2024, with 23 submitting formal applications and 22 others expressing informal interest. However, new members are unlikely to be inducted soon, as the last expansion occurred in 2024 and the alliance may take several more years before adding additional countries.
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