President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s participation in the 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by the Indian capital, New Delhi, underscores Egypt’s pivotal role as a full member of the grouping and its commitment to shaping a more balanced and equitable global economic and political order, one that better serves developing countries and the Global South.
With Egypt’s accession as a full and permanent member, alongside Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Iran, the grouping has acquired new strategic weight in the Middle East and Africa.
The BRICS Summit serves as the grouping’s highest-level political and coordination mechanism. It is responsible for developing common positions on international issues and laying the groundwork for regular leaders’ summits by preparing agendas and strategic agreements.
The grouping focuses on political coordination among its members on global governance, reform of the international financial system, and strengthening South-South economic co-operation.
BRICS members rotate the group’s presidency annually, with India holding the chairmanship for the current 2026 cycle.
Against this backdrop, BRICS can be viewed as the latest framework for advancing Egypt’s economic diplomacy. The BRICS grouping currently represents 46 per cent of the world’s population and accounts for more than 36 per cent of global GDP measured at purchasing power parity. This gives it a share of global economic output comparable to that of the Group of Seven industrialised nations combined.
In recent years, Egyptian diplomacy has moved to strengthen ties with the grouping and capitalise on the opportunities it offers to advance national efforts toward economic and social development across various sectors.
These opportunities include attracting greater foreign investment, expanding economic relations and trade with BRICS countries, and facilitating the transfer of expertise and technology.
More than 30 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS. However, during the grouping’s first membership expansion since 2009, Egypt was among the countries invited to join in 2024, an outcome that reflected the culmination of years of diplomatic engagement and active interaction with the grouping.
Egypt’s engagement with BRICS represents more than participation in an emerging economic grouping. It is part of a broader diplomatic and economic strategy aimed at expanding the country’s international partnerships, opening new avenues for investment and trade, and enhancing its ability to participate in discussions on the future of the global economic order.
For Egypt, BRICS offers a platform through which economic interests and strategic priorities can be pursued in parallel. Its membership provides opportunities to deepen co-operation with major emerging economies, strengthen access to development financing, and promote greater economic integration with countries across Asia, Africa, and beyond.
As global economic and political dynamics continue to evolve, Egypt’s active participation in BRICS reflects its interest in maintaining a diversified network of international partnerships and securing a stronger role in shaping the economic future of the developing world.
