Pakistan's Brics membership bid stalls as India blocks entry at summit
Pakistan's request to join the Brics bloc remains unresolved, with India using its veto power to keep Islamabad out during the 18th summit in New Delhi.
In 2023 Pakistan submitted a formal request to join the Brics grouping, emphasizing its friendly ties with existing members and the need for new funding avenues amid modest GDP growth of 3.70 percent. The bloc, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to become Brics+, adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, while Saudi Arabia and Argentina received invitations.
Despite this enlargement, India's veto power at the 18th summit in New Delhi has blocked Pakistan's entry, underscoring strained Indo-Pak relations. Pakistan's foreign office highlighted the country's support for multilateralism and its purchase of a $580 million stake in the New Development Bank to reduce reliance on the World Bank and IMF. The unresolved bid leaves Pakistan among 29 hopeful nations seeking Brics membership.
Why it matters
Pakistan's stalled Brics bid highlights regional power dynamics and its search for alternative economic partners.
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