Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim confirmed that the Kingdom is still assessing its BRICS membership invitation.
“We’ve been invited to BRICS, just as we’ve been invited to many other multilateral platforms. We are evaluating different aspects before making a decision, and right now, we are in the middle of that process,” he stated.
Back in January 2024, it was noted that Saudi Arabia’s hesitation stemmed from:
📌 Western perceptions of BRICS as an anti-Western alliance.
📌 Iran’s involvement in the Red Sea Crisis.
📌 Israeli-U.S. pressure on Riyadh to reconsider.
Saudi Arabia, once firmly aligned with the West, has recently adopted a multi-alignment strategy, much like India, balancing ties with both Western powers and what Russia now calls the “World Majority.”
One key concern is the Kingdom’s national brand being associated with agenda-driven narratives portraying BRICS as anti-Western, something Riyadh might wish to avoid.
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