Six new countries were granted full BRICS membership during the 2023 Head of States summit in Johannesburg, SA. There is speculation that expansion might continue next year, at the 2024 summit.

https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/93857/

News reports from before the 2023 summit stated that over 20 countries had formally applied for membership, and over 40 had expressed interest in joining. But only Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE were granted membership.

Some have expressed doubt whether BRICS will continue to expand beyond this. Others have suggested that BRICS may lose it's appeal over the next year such that they struggle to attract new members or partners. There may also be a focus on adding a lower tier of Partner Countries instead of expanding full membership.

Notes on resolution:

For the purposes of resolution, the date that the country becomes a member is immaterial, it is the announcement of acceptance that matters.

The exact date of the 2024 summit is not yet known, but it is expected to be in Kazan, Russia, in October. The closing date for this question will be adjusted when the exact date is known and the question will close the day before the summit begins.

If any countries are granted membership before the summit, they will be included in the total, but the question will not resolve early.

If no Head of State Summit is held in 2024, then the question will resolve to N/A.

Please ask if any further clarification is required.

I will be betting on this question, but I will keep my bets small relative to the total betting pool.

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