Full History Of BRICS In Timeline From 1952

February 1952: Turkey became a NATO member

On 18 February 1952, Turkey has been a NATO member.

1990: Start of Economic Rise

The economy of the BRICS has risen by 356.27% between 1990 and 2019.

2001: Jim O'Neill coins BRIC

In 2001, Jim O'Neill coined the term BRIC while working at Goldman Sachs to identify emerging markets with high growth potential.

2001: Publication of Building Better Global Economic BRICs

In 2001, Jim O'Neill introduced the term BRIC in the publication "Building Better Global Economic BRICs," highlighting the investment potential of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

October 2005: Turkey's EU membership process started

On 3 October 2005, Turkey's EU membership process started.

September 2006: First Meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers

In September 2006, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, and China met in New York City, marking the beginning of high-level BRIC meetings.

June 2009: Full-Scale Diplomatic Meeting in Yekaterinburg

In June 2009, a full-scale diplomatic meeting was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, advancing the formalization of the BRIC group.

June 2009: First Formal BRIC Summit in Yekaterinburg

On 16 June 2009, the first formal BRIC summit commenced in Yekaterinburg, with leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, and China attending to discuss global economic issues and future cooperation.

2009: BRIC Nations Announce Need for New Global Reserve Currency

In 2009, following the Yekaterinburg summit, the BRIC nations announced the need for a new global reserve currency that would be "diverse, stable and predictable".

2009: First BRIC summit held

In 2009, the first BRIC summit was held, marking the beginning of annual summits for the grouping.

2009: First BRIC Summit Held

In 2009, the first summit featuring the founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China took place, marking the formal establishment of the BRIC diplomatic club.

2009: Emergence of "BRICI" Concept

Indonesia's history with the original BRIC members goes back to 2009, when some observers referred to a theorized grouping as "BRICI" given Indonesia's growing and stable economy and ties to India and China.

April 2010: South Africa's Attendance at the 2nd BRIC Summit

In April 2010, South Africa was invited as a guest to the 2nd BRIC summit, marking the beginning of its integration into the group.

September 2010: South Africa Joins BRIC, Organization Renamed BRICS

In September 2010, South Africa officially joined the BRIC organization, leading to its renaming as BRICS to reflect the inclusion of the new member.

December 2010: South Africa Becomes a Member of BRIC

On 24 December 2010, South Africa officially became a member of BRIC, after receiving formal invitation from China and acceptance by other BRIC countries. Afterwards, the group was renamed BRICS.

2010: Second BRIC summit held

In 2010, the second BRIC summit was held before South Africa's admission into the group.

2011: South Africa's First BRICS Summit as Full Member

In 2011, Jacob Zuma, the South African president, represented the country as a full member at the BRICS summit in Sanya, China, marking South Africa's full integration into the group.

2011: South Africa Attends BRICS Summit as Full Member

In 2011, South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS summit as a full member, solidifying its position within the organization.

2011: First five-member BRICS summit held in China

In 2011, the first five-member BRICS summit, including South Africa, was held in China.

2011: Joint Statistical Publication by BRICS National Institutes of Statistics

Since 2011, the National Institutes of Statistics of the BRICS group of countries have been producing an annual joint statistical publication, creating a single data platform for the mutual benefit of participating countries.

June 2012: BRICS Nations Pledge $75 Billion to IMF

In June 2012, the BRICS nations pledged $75 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), conditional on voting reforms.

2012: BRICS as defenders of developing countries and force for peace

In 2012, Hu Jintao described the BRICS countries as defenders and promoters of developing countries and a force for world peace.

2012: BRICS Countries Plan Optical Fiber Submarine Communications Cable System

Since 2012, the BRICS countries has been planning an optical fiber submarine communications cable system to carry telecommunications between the BRICS countries, known as the BRICS Cable.

March 2013: BRICS Nations Agree to Create New Development Bank

In March 2013, during the fifth BRICS summit in Durban, member countries agreed to establish a global financial institution to cooperate with the IMF and World Bank.

April 2013: BRICS Members Lack Consensus

In April 2013, Isobel Coleman claimed that BRICS members lack consensus due to differing political systems and poorly integrated economies, with China's significant GDP contribution leading to its greater political influence.

September 2013: BRICS acting on an international level

A Friedrich Ebert Foundation perspective from September 2013 notes how BRICS members, for the first time, with Russia as an exception, are really acting on an international level.

September 2013: BRICS Leaders Meeting in Saint Petersburg

In September 2013, at the BRICS leaders meeting in Saint Petersburg, China committed $41 billion, while Brazil, India, and Russia each committed $18 billion, and South Africa $5 billion towards the currency pool.

October 2013: Russia Announces Creation of Currency Stabilization Fund

In October 2013, Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov announced that a $100 billion fund designated to steady currency markets would be created in early 2014.

March 2014: Confirmation of Currency Fund Creation

In March 2014, the Brazilian finance minister, Guido Mantega, confirmed that the fund would be created by March 2014.

April 2014: Delay in Setting Up Currency Reserve Pool and Development Bank

By April 2014, the currency reserve pool and development bank had yet to be set up, and the date was rescheduled to 2015.

July 2014: Creation of New Development Bank and Reserve Currency Pool

In July 2014, during the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza, BRICS members signed documents to create the US$100 billion New Development Bank and a reserve currency pool worth over US$100 billion.

July 2014: Treaty for BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement signed

In July 2014, the Treaty for the Establishment of a BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement was signed in Fortaleza.

2014: Limitations of BRICS as political and economic locomotive of the South

In 2014, Vijay Prashad raised the limitations of the BRICS as a political and economic "locomotive of the South" because they follow neoliberal policies.

2014: Opinion poll showed only 4% knew what BRICS stood for

In 2014, results of an opinion poll showed that only 4% of 1881 respondents knew what BRICS stood for.

2014: BRICS financial architecture signed into a treaty

In 2014, the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) components of BRICS' financial architecture were signed into a treaty.

2014: Reform of global governance institutions on BRICS agenda

Speaking at the BRICS summit in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "reform of institutions of global governance ... has been on the BRICS agenda since its inception."

2014: Planned Establishment of New Development Bank

The New Development Bank was planned to be set up by 2014 to cooperate with the western-dominated IMF and World Bank.

July 2015: BRICS CRA entered into force

In July 2015, the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) entered into force upon ratification by all BRICS states, announced at the 7th BRICS summit.

September 2015: BRICS CRA Governing Council and Standing Committee held inaugural meetings

On 4 September 2015, the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) Governing Council and Standing Committee held their inaugural meetings in Ankara, Turkey.

2015: Consultations initiated for alternative payment system to SWIFT

At the 2015 BRICS summit in Russia, ministers from the BRICS states initiated consultations for a payment system that would be an alternative to the SWIFT system.

2015: BRICS effective in shaping multipolar world order

In 2015, President Vladimir Putin stated that despite BRICS being a young organisation, it has already been effective.

2015: Construction of BRICS Cable Abandoned

In 2015, construction of the proposed BRICS Cable network was abandoned, possibly due to cost.

2015: BRICS financial architecture became active

In 2015, the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) of BRICS' financial architecture became active.

2015: Rescheduling of Currency Reserve Pool and Development Bank Setup

In 2015, the currency reserve pool and development bank had to be rescheduled.

2016: BRICS as first important non-Western global initiative

In 2016 Brahma Chellaney writes whether BRICS will be able to construct institutionalized structures including "institutionalized cooperation".

2017: BRICS Accounted for Global Investment Inflows

In 2017, BRICS accounted for 19% of global investment inflows.

2017: Doklam standoff

The Doklam standoff in 2017, India stated that it may pull out of the 2017 BRICS Xiamen Summit.

March 2019: Turkey's EU membership process frozen

On 13 March 2019, Turkey's EU membership process was frozen.

August 2019: BRICS Communications Ministers Sign Letter of Intent for ICT Cooperation

In August 2019, the communications ministers of the BRICS countries signed a letter of intent to cooperate in the Information and Communication Technology sector.

2019: Opinion poll showed only 3% knew what BRICS stood for

In 2019, results of an opinion poll showed that only 3% of 1849 respondents knew what BRICS stood for.

2019: President Pro Tempore of BRICS

In 2019, the group at each summit elects one of the heads of state of the component countries to serve as President Pro Tempore of the BRICS, in 2019 the position was held by the president of Brazil.

2019: Brazilian Pro Tempore Presidency Priorities for 2019

In 2019, the priorities of the Brazilian Pro Tempore Presidency for 2019 are strengthening the cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, enhancement of the cooperation on digital economy, invigoration of cooperation on the fight against transnational crime and rapprochement between the New Development Bank (NDB) and the BRICS Business Council.

2019: Economic Statistics

The economy of the BRICS has risen by 356.27% between 1990 and 2019.

2020: NDB had 53 projects underway

As of 2020, the New Development Bank (NDB) had 53 projects underway worth around $15 billion.

2020: Sino-Indian border dispute

In 2020 the Sino-Indian border dispute has been a bilateral non-issue for BRICS.

2020: 2020 BRICS summit held via video-conference

In 2020, the BRICS summit was held via video-conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: FDI Stock in BRICS

In 2020, the United States and United Kingdom have been the top two investors in the bloc in terms of FDI stock.

2020: 2020 BRICS Summit Discusses COVID-19 Pandemic

The 2020 BRICS summit was held virtually in St. Petersburg, Russia, and discussed how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and how to fix the multilateral system via reforms.

2021: 13th BRICS Summit Discusses COVID-19 Origins

During the 13th BRICS summit in 2021, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping discussed the origins of COVID-19.

2021: Bangladesh, Egypt, UAE, and Uruguay joined the NDB

In 2021, Bangladesh, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay joined the New Development Bank (NDB).

2021: 2021 BRICS summit held via video-conference

In 2021, the BRICS summit was held via video-conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: O'Neill's Criticism of BRICS in Project Syndicate

In a 2021 article for Project Syndicate, Jim O'Neill expressed his view that the BRICS countries "have so far proven incapable of uniting as a meaningful global force".

September 2022: Turkey announced intention to apply for SCO membership

In September 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that his country would apply for membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

2022: Global Economic Output (GDP PPP) in 2022

BRICS generated close to 32% of global economic output (GDP PPP) in 2022.

2022: Argentina formally applied for BRICS membership

In 2022, Argentina formally applied for BRICS membership under Alberto Fernández's government, an offer which was later declined by a subsequent government in December 2023.

2022: BRICS+ Share of World GDP at PPP

In 2022, BRICS+ share of world GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) is 35.6%.

2022: 2022 BRICS summit held via video-conference

In 2022, the BRICS summit was held via video-conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 2023: South Africa Grants Diplomatic Immunity to Putin

In May 2023, South Africa announced that they would be giving diplomatic immunity to Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials so that they could attend the 15th BRICS Summit despite the ICC arrest warrant for Putin.

July 2023: Putin Announces He Will Not Attend BRICS Summit in Person

In July 2023, Vladimir Putin announced that he will not personally attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg on 22–24 August and will participate online.

July 2023: Tufts University Study on BRICS

In July 2023, a Tufts University study found that the portrayal of BRICS as a China-dominated, anti-U.S. group was misplaced. The study asserted that BRICS countries connect around common development interests and seek a multipolar world order, challenging Washington's geopolitical and economic goals.

July 2023: BRICS anti-western stance unlikely

In a presentation prepared in July 2023, Alissa Wang, discusses that the possibility of BRICS becoming anti-western is not likely.

August 2023: Con Coughlin Claims BRICS Challenge is Destined to Fail

In August 2023, after the BRICS Summit, Con Coughlin claimed "the challenge BRICS presents to the established world order seems destined to failure" and accused the organization of being used by China as a vehicle for expanding its global influence.

August 2023: Invitation of New Countries to Join BRICS

In August 2023, at the 15th BRICS Summit, South Africa announced that 6 emerging market group countries were invited to join the bloc.

August 2023: Invitation to new countries to join BRICS

In August 2023, during the 15th BRICS Summit, South Africa announced that Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates had been invited to join the organization.

November 2023: Pakistan applied for BRICS membership

In November 2023, Pakistan formally applied for membership in BRICS. The application was supported by the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, but support within BRICS was not unanimous.

November 2023: Argentine Election Leads to Change in BRICS Membership Application

The Argentine general election in November 2023 led to a change in president to Javier Milei, who had committed to withdraw the country's membership application from BRICS.

December 2023: Gallup Poll on Global Perceptions of BRICS

According to a Gallup International poll conducted between October and December 2023, almost a third of people around the world had never heard of BRICS but Western countries were much more negative towards the alliance than elsewhere.

December 2023: BRICS De-dollarization Efforts Challenge US Interests

In December 2023, according to Thomas Hill of the Atlantic Council, BRICS' de-dollarization efforts, particularly in North Africa, present a significant challenge to US interests by potentially limiting the US's ability to manage deficits and maintain low interest rates.

December 2023: Argentina Officially Withdraws from BRICS

On 29 December 2023, the Government of Argentina sent a letter to all BRICS leaders to officially announce its withdrawal from the application process.

December 2023: Argentina declined BRICS membership offer

On 30 December 2023, the new government of Argentina officially declined the offer to join BRICS due to differences in foreign policy.

2023: BRICS countries committed to study feasibility of new common currency

At the 2023 BRICS summit in South Africa, BRICS countries committed to study the feasibility of a new common currency or similar.

2023: Border issues addressed during BRICS summit

During the 2023 BRICS summit China and India agreed to make efforts to address border issues.

2023: Algeria applied for BRICS membership

In 2023, Algeria applied for BRICS membership, but later rejected it in September 2024.

2023: Indonesia Receives Green Light to Join BRICS

In 2023, Jakarta's bid got the green light from the bloc.

2023: France's request to attend BRICS summit rejected

In 2023, Russia's Foreign Ministry stated that Emmanuel Macron's request to attend the BRICS summit would be "unsuitable".

2023: XV declaration of BRICS did not mention dollar or de-dollarisation

In an analysis of the 2023 BRICS XV declaration Bhaso Ndzendze writes that neither the "dollar" or "de-dollarisation” were mentioned.

January 2024: Expansion of BRICS Membership

By January 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates joined the bloc making BRICS membership grow from five to nine countries.

January 2024: Scheduled Effective Date for New BRICS Members

Full membership for new countries invited to join BRICS in August 2023 was scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2024.

January 2024: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates invited to join BRICS

On 1 January 2024, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates had been invited to join the organization.

January 2024: Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, and Iran joined BRICS

On 1 January 2024, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Iran officially joined the BRICS bloc.

April 2024: Saudi Arabia Still Considering BRICS Membership

As of April 2024, Saudi Arabia was still under consideration about joining the BRICS.

July 2024: Turkey sees NATO and BRICS membership as not mutually exclusive

On 11 July 2024, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated they did not consider Turkey's membership in NATO as an alternative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS.

September 2024: Algeria rejected BRICS membership

In September 2024, Algeria rejected BRICS membership, becoming the second country after Argentina to decline.

September 2024: Turkey officially applied to join BRICS

On 2 September 2024, Turkey officially applied to join the BRICS bloc.

October 2024: Analysis of China's power distribution within BRICS

In October 2024, Christian E. Rieck of the Global Governance Institute writes China's relative power distribution in BRICS is "4+1" and its impact on the group's dynamics.

October 2024: BRICS framework is non-confrontational and constructive

In October 2024, a Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman said that "BRICS framework is non-confrontational and constructive".

October 2024: Zelensky criticized the Kazan summit as a total failure

In an October 2024 interview, President Zelensky said that the Kazan summit was a total failure.

October 2024: Invitation of Partner Countries to Participate in BRICS

On 24 October 2024, thirteen countries were invited to participate as "partner countries" in BRICS, allowing them to engage with and benefit from BRICS initiatives.

November 2024: Pivot of Global South countries should be a "wake-up call" for the EU

In November 2024, Reinhold Brender of the Egmont Institute writes that the pivot of a number of countries in the Global South should be a "wake-up call" for the EU.

November 2024: Trump Threatens Tariffs on Countries Pursuing BRICS Currency

In November 2024, then United States president-elect Donald Trump threatened a 100% tariff on countries pursuing a BRICS currency or favoring another currency over the U.S. dollar.

2024: Combined Foreign Reserves of BRICS

As of 2024, the five initial member states had an estimated US$5.2 trillion in combined foreign reserves.

2024: NDB approved over $32 billion for 96 projects

By 2024, the New Development Bank (NDB) had approved more than $32 billion for 96 projects.

2024: Brazil blocked Venezuela's BRICS application

Following the 2024 BRICS summit, Brazil blocked Venezuela's application to the bloc, largely due to the disputed 2024 Venezuelan elections and the Venezuelan crisis.

2024: Indonesia Asks to Join BRICS After Presidential Election

Following the presidential election held in 2024, the Southeast Asian country asked to join.

2024: Putin backs away from de-dollarization calls

In 2024 at the BRICS summit President Putin seemed to back away from "aggressive calls for de-dollarization but rather to deter the "weaponization" of the US dollar".

2024: Informality and Labour Force Participation Rate in BRICS

In 2024 the informality rate was 62% while the labour force participation was 60.8%.

2024: BRICS as alternative to G7 due to lack of inclusion

In 2024, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stated "because you won’t let us into the G7 club" with reference to India's participation in BRICS and the current trend of global governance for emerging economies and rising powers.

2024: Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and UAE Join BRICS

In 2024, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates attended their first BRICS summit as member states, significantly expanding the group's membership.

2024: Jim O'Neill comments about BRICS

In 2024, Jim O'Neill comments the BRICS grouping merely generates rhetoric and symbolism.

2024: O'Neill's Continued Criticism of BRICS

In 2024, Jim O'Neill felt that "each year also brings further confirmation that the grouping serves no real purpose beyond generating symbolic gestures and lofty rhetoric".

2024: BRICS as key element of emerging multipolar world order

In 2024, President Putin speaking at a BRICS forum said "BRICS is one of the key elements of the emerging multipolar world order.

2024: Partner states category introduced

In 2024, the category of partner states was introduced at the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, Russian Federation, for prospective members to be integrated.

2024: First nine-member BRICS summit held in Russia

In 2024, the first nine-member BRICS summit was held in Russia.

January 2025: Additional countries invited to join BRICS as observers

As of mid-January 2025, three more countries had been invited to join the BRICS bloc as observer partner states but have not yet confirmed that status.

January 2025: Indonesia opted for full BRICS membership

In January 2025, Indonesia opted for full BRICS membership, which went into effect, instead of being an observer partner state as originally intended.

January 2025: Joseph Nye on BRICS

In January 2025, Joseph Nye writes that BRICS is useful to Russia and Iran as a means of escaping diplomatic isolation and that the expansion of BRICS could bring more intra-organizational rivalries, limiting its effectiveness.

January 2025: Trump's Post on Truth Social Regarding BRICS

In January 2025, President Trump posted on Truth Social to "go find another sucker Nation" with respect to BRICS.

January 2025: Nine states ensured BRICS partnership status

In January 2025, nine states ensured their partnership status with BRICS, while Indonesia acceded into the core membership.

January 2025: Indonesia Joins BRICS Officially as a Full Member

On 6 January 2025, Indonesia joined BRICS officially as a full member, making it the first Southeast Asian state to join the bloc, as well as the 10th member of BRICS.

January 2025: Partnerships Go Into Effect

The partnerships that were announced in the previous year, went into effect in January 2025 as well. Nigeria joined the partnership countries on January 17.

February 2025: Trump States "BRICS is dead"

In February 2025, in a press briefing, President Trump stated that "BRICS is dead", attributing this to his "150%" tariff threat.

2025: Indonesia joins BRICS

In early 2025, Indonesia officially joined BRICS as a member state, becoming the first Southeast Asian member.

2045: BRICS+ Economies Expected to Overtake G7

According to Economist Intelligence Unit, the collective size of the economies of BRICS+ will overtake G7 after 2045.

History of BRICS in Timeline