At the recent 15th BRICS Leaders’ Summit held in South Africa, the five BRICS nations confirmed that Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will join the BRICS group on January 1, 2024.

This expansion will inject new vitality into the BRICS cooperation mechanism and elevate its global influence to a new level. In particular, the addition of five countries from the Middle East and North Africa region, with their strategic geographical locations and abundant resources, will provide exceptional strategic value to the BRICS group. The Suez Canal, a crucial route for maritime transport between Asia and Europe; the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean and through which one-third of global liquefied gas and one-fifth of oil passes; and peace and stability among Middle Eastern countries are guarantees for future energy security and the successful progression of the Belt and Road Initiative to its next phase.

The major transformation of the global order continues to advance steadily and consistently.