BRICS

Economic bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, recently expanded to include additional members. - India hosting 2026 summit

The Group of Twenty has operated by consensus since finance ministers created it in 1999. In December 2026, the United States will host the summit at Trump National Doral Miami—and for the first time in the forum's history, a founding member has been barred from attending. South Africa received no invitation. Poland, which recently became the world's twentieth-largest economy, got one instead.

Updated Feb 11

An economic bloc representing half the world's population and 41% of global GDP at purchasing power parity—with no defense treaty. - Expanded to nine members in 2024, hosting first branded military exercise

Chinese destroyers, Russian corvettes, and Iranian warships sailed into South Africa's Simon's Town Naval Base on January 9 for a week-long joint exercise. China leads the operation. Russia and Iran—both heavily sanctioned, both fighting active wars—sent their fleets. India and Brazil, despite the BRICS branding, are nowhere to be found. On January 10, the South African government doubled down, calling the drills 'essential' maritime cooperation despite mounting domestic and international pressure.

Updated Jan 10