Saudi Arabia expresses desire to join BRICS family

Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in joining the BRICS economic group which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, South African  President, Cyril Ramaphosa, said

Ramaphosa, who has just returned from an official visit to Riyadh, said Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud, had expressed the kingdom’s desire to be part of BRICS.
“They are not the only country [seeking membership in BRICS],” local radio station ABC reported Ramaphosa saying.
The South African President said his country will chair the BRICS summit in 2023, adding that during the summit the issue of expanding the group will be considered.
“We did say that BRICS [is] having a summit next year under the chairmanship of South Africa and the matter (expanding the BRICS group) is going to be under consideration,” he noted, “A number of countries are making approaches to BRICS members, and we have given them the same answer, that it will be discussed by the BRICS partners and thereafter a decision will be made,” Cyril Ramaphosa noted.
Together, the BRICS account for more than 40 percent of the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP.

Based on the materials of www.middleeastmonitor.com