India dismisses "basesless" reports that it opposes BRICS expansion

India has dismissed reports that it is opposed to the expansion of the grouping ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg that is set to discuss admitting new members and decide on the criteria for new members.

Dismissing speculation, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said, "...I think we have talked about our position a couple of times, as you mentioned yourself. Let me repeat again. We have clarified our position in the past. As mandated by the leaders last year, BRICS members are internally discussing the guiding principles, standards, criteria, and procedures for BRICS expansion process on the basis of full consultation and consensus. As our External Affairs Minister had mentioned, we are approaching this with an open mind and a positive outlook. We have seen some baseless speculation, and you also referred some of it to that, that India has reservations against expansion. This is simply not true. So let me put it very clearly from that?"

"...I think this idea that we are against expansion is simply not true," Bagchi asserted.


The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Iran, Indonesia and Kazakhstan are among countries which have shown keen interest in joining the grouping. ET has learnt that currently the BRICS members are discussing the number of countries that could be added as new members in the group.

The BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.