First meeting of expanded BRICS in 2024.

 FIRST EXPANSION ADDS A POPULATION OF 365 MILLION 

PIVOTAL GEOGRAPHIC AND FINANCIAL  POSITIONS

The first meeting of the expanded BRICS economic group has concluded 3 days of meetings in Moscow, were Russia serves as this years acting chairman. This group has scheduled over 200 meetings for the year to be concluded with its annual meeting to take place in Kazan, Russia. 

The original group was conceived in 2006 and formally created in 2009. The first members were Brazil, Russia, India and China with South Africa added in 2010. This first expansion approved in 2023 added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. It now comprises 46% of the world's population, 41% of the world's oil production and 30% of the world's Gross domestic product, which is made up of basic materials, energy and manufactured goods.

It is reported that there are now 34 official countries applying to join this group. New applicants will be voted on in the fall of 2024.

All members are in strategic positions either because of their economic or geographical status.

The new members are Ethiopia with a population of 120 million, situated on the eastern coast of Africa and where there is a huge port being constructed, financed by China, to facilitate trade with Africa.

Egypt with a population of 109 million controls the suez canal, a major gate for trade and a pivotal location in the middle east.

Iran with a population of 90 million is envisioned as a major thoroughfare of trade from Russia to the gulf and to India and visa versa it is also pivotal in the formation of land routes to China.

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are major oil producers and becoming the center of finance in the Middle East and Asia.

These additions are pivotal locations for the building of supply chains in Asia, Africa and South America. 

The groups advertises itself as a new economic system that gives all members equal standing, opportunity and influence and hopes to foster a spirit of economic cooperation without biases based on social customs or internal politics. While it has existed for 15 years, its growth has accelerated due to the use of economic sanctions and the fear of coercion and intimidation to submit to social mandates and alliances that may not be in their self interest.

While some claim that this group is intended to be a weapon against the United States and the West, they all claim they hope to continue trade with the West and to do business in the Dollar and Euro but with the ability to also do business in their currencies or possibly an alterative form of payment system. At this point this is an economic alliance that hopes to add prosperity to all its members by encouraging equal standing and cooperation based on economic self interest. 

It is indeed a turning point in the world economic order, it is just a question if the countries of the West can, or are willing, to adapt to this new reality or to continue to use its economic and military power in an attempt to control the world. 

An objective view would conclude that the growing new economic order will have the basic resources, the financial assets and the vibrant population to insure a prosperous future.