Why in News ?
India on Monday welcomed Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia joining the BRICS as their representatives attended for the first time a key meeting of the grouping hosted by Russia.
What is BRICS ?
In 2006, Brazil, Russia, India and China created the “BRIC” group. South Africa joined in 2010, making it “BRICS”. The group was designed to bring together the world’s most important developing countries, to challenge the political and economic power of the wealthier nations of North America and Western Europe.
Today’s News :
Senior diplomat Dammu Ravi led the Indian de- legation at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, in western Russia.
“A significant meeting in the format of expanded BRICS family. India whole- heartedly welcomes the new membership,” the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said.
The meeting on Monday was the first ministerial meeting following BRICS expansion in 2023 when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Sau- di Arabia, and the UAE joined Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as full-fledged members.