BRICS Plus Dialogue

The BRICS Plus format is an outreach mechanism through which the BRICS grouping — originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — invites leaders from non-member states and regional organizations to participate in side sessions at its annual summit. The format was introduced by China during its 2017 chairmanship, with the Xiamen Summit hosting leaders from Egypt, Mexico, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Guinea (then chair of the African Union) in a dedicated "Dialogue of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries."

Subsequent chairs have adapted the format to their diplomatic priorities. South Africa's 2018 and 2023 chairmanships emphasized African and Global South participation; the 2023 Johannesburg Summit hosted dozens of invited leaders and culminated in the announcement that Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina would be invited to join as full members (Argentina subsequently declined under the Milei government). Russia's 2024 Kazan Summit continued the BRICS Plus track alongside a new "partner country" category.

Key features of the format include:

• Non-binding participation: invited states attend dialogue sessions but do not negotiate the summit declaration.
• Chair's prerogative: each rotating chair selects invitees, which shapes the geographic and political composition.
• Bridge to enlargement: the format has functioned as an informal antechamber for accession, as demonstrated by the 2023–2024 expansion.

Analysts debate whether BRICS Plus represents a coherent counterweight to G7-led institutions or a loose coordination forum reflecting heterogeneous interests. Supporters frame it as a vehicle for South–South cooperation, reform of global financial governance, and de-dollarization discussions. Critics note divergent foreign policies among participants — for example, India and China's border tensions, or Brazil's differing stance on the war in Ukraine — which constrain collective action. For MUN and research purposes, BRICS Plus is best understood as a flexible diplomatic platform rather than a treaty-based organization.