"Saudi Arabia Engages BRICS as Invited Nation Without Formal Membership"
Strategic hedging
engaging a grouping's economic benefits without accepting its full political or security costs.
BRICS
grouping of major emerging economies; eleven members as of 2026, accounting for ~40% of global GDP.
BRICS began as a four-member grouping of major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined later to complete the original five. The Fortaleza Declaration of 2014 was a landmark moment. It established the New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai, as a multilateral lending institution for infrastructure and sustainable development. The NDB was set up by BRICS itself, not by APEC or any other body. It was designed to offer an alternative to the World Bank and IMF for Global South nations that felt underrepresented in those institutions.
The 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan, Russia, marked another turning point. Its theme was 'Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security', not 'multiculturalism', a distinction that has been tested in examinations. At Kazan, Indonesia became a full member. By the 18th Summit in New Delhi, BRICS had grown to eleven members, including major West Asian energy producers: Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia (the last of these in an ambiguous invited-but-not-confirmed status). This expansion created a structurally novel situation: Iran and the UAE, which belong to opposing camps in the West Asia conflict, now sit within the same grouping.
Energy security has long been the dominant driver of India's engagement with the Gulf. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among India's largest crude oil suppliers. This energy dependence has historically shaped the contours of India's Middle East diplomacy. Over time, however, both India and Saudi Arabia have sought to move beyond the buyer-seller relationship. The Strategic Partnership Council, established between the two countries, reflects this broadening. India-Saudi bilateral trade stood at approximately $41.88 billion in 2024-25. The large Indian diaspora, roughly 24-27 lakh Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia, adds a people-to-people dimension that reinforces the economic relationship.
Saudi Arabia was formally invited to join BRICS at the 2023 Johannesburg Summit. Successive BRICS chairs, including India, have listed Riyadh among the grouping's members on official platforms. Yet Saudi leaders have consistently participated in high-level BRICS meetings as invited guests rather than confirmed full members. This ambiguity is deliberate, not accidental.
The core reason is strategic hedging. Saudi Arabia values BRICS as an economic platform. The grouping's eleven members account for roughly 40% of global GDP and more than half the world's population. For Riyadh, BRICS provides access to its two largest crude buyers, China and India, and a forum to explore alternative trade and settlement arrangements, including greater use of local currencies. Non-oil exports have grown significantly, reaching 44% of Saudi Arabia's total exports in 2025, up from 30% in 2021. BRICS membership offers a platform to deepen ties with emerging markets as Riyadh diversifies its economy.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia's security architecture is deeply tied to the United States. …
Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:
I.16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan.
II.Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS.
III.The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was 'Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security'.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The 'Fortaleza Declaration', recently in the news, is related to the affairs of
Consider the following statements:
1.New Development Bank has been set up by APEC.
2.The headquarters of New Development Bank is in Shanghai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
'Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries.' How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
'The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance.' Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:
1.The New Development Bank (NDB) was established by APEC and is headquartered in Shanghai.
2.Indonesia became a full member of BRICS at the 16th Summit held in Kazan, Russia.
3.The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was 'Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security'.
4.Saudi Arabia was formally invited to join BRICS at the 2023 Johannesburg Summit but has not confirmed full membership.
How many of the above statements are correct?
With reference to the New Development Bank (NDB), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It was established under the Fortaleza Declaration adopted at the BRICS Summit.
2.Its headquarters is located in Beijing, China.
3.It was set up as an alternative multilateral lending institution primarily for Global South infrastructure and sustainable development.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Match the following BRICS-related instruments/events with their correct descriptions:
List I (Instrument/Event) — List II (Description)
A.Fortaleza Declaration — 1. Established the New Development Bank
B.16th BRICS Summit — 2. Indonesia became a full member
C.2023 Johannesburg Summit — 3. Saudi Arabia formally invited to join BRICS
D.18th BRICS Summit — 4. Held in New Delhi under India's chairship
Select the correct answer:
With reference to Saudi Arabia's engagement with BRICS, consider the following statements:
1.Saudi Arabia became a full member of BRICS at the 2023 Johannesburg Summit.
2.China and India are among the largest buyers of Saudi crude oil.
3.Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports accounted for 44% of its total exports in 2025.
4.Saudi Arabia's formal BRICS membership is constrained partly by its defence and technology agreements with the United States.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following best explains why Saudi Arabia has not formally confirmed its BRICS membership despite being invited at the 2023 Johannesburg Summit?
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