Which country is not involved in BRICS?

The correct answer is Germany.

The BRICS bloc is an informal group of major emerging economies that serves as a platform for cooperation on economic, political, and security issues. While the options include world-leading economies, Germany is a prominent member of the G7 and the European Union, whereas BRICS was specifically designed to represent the interests of the Global South and non-Western emerging powers.

The Origins of the Acronym

The term was originally coined as "BRIC" in 2001 by Jim O'Neill, an economist at Goldman Sachs. He used the acronym to identify the four economies—Brazil, Russia, India, and China—that he predicted would dominate the global economy by 2050. At that time, it was an investment concept rather than an official organization. However, the leaders of these four nations saw the potential for a formal alliance to challenge the Western-centric global financial order, leading to their first official summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.

The Addition of South Africa

In 2010, the group expanded for the first time. South Africa was invited to join, officially turning "BRIC" into "BRICS." This addition was strategically vital as it provided the bloc with a representative from the African continent, broadening its geographic reach and increasing its legitimacy as a voice for developing nations. Since then, the five nations have met annually at summits hosted by a different member state each year.

Key Objectives and the New Development Bank

The primary goal of BRICS is to promote a "multipolar" world order. The members often argue that international institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank do not adequately represent the interests of emerging economies. To counter this, BRICS established the New Development Bank (NDB) in 2014, headquartered in Shanghai. The NDB provides an alternative source of financing for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market countries, operating independently of Western conditions.

The 2024 Expansion (BRICS+)

For over a decade, the membership remained stable at five countries. However, during the 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg in August 2023, the bloc announced a historic expansion. Effective January 1, 2024, several new countries were invited to join, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. This expansion, often referred to as "BRICS+," significantly increased the bloc’s share of global GDP and its control over world oil production.

Why Germany is Not a Member

Germany, despite being the largest economy in Europe, does not fit the criteria for BRICS membership. The bloc is fundamentally composed of countries that consider themselves "emerging" or part of the Global South, aiming to provide a counterweight to the traditional influence of the United States and Western Europe. Germany is a core member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the G7, which are the very institutions BRICS seeks to provide an alternative to in the global geopolitical landscape. Today, BRICS represents a massive portion of the world’s population and global trade, and its evolution from a financial term to a geopolitical powerhouse remains a central theme in modern international relations.