Saudi Arabia and Iran have asked to join. On the one hand, this looks like a positive development (especially if they both know that the other has also asked). On the other hand, I’m wondering whether it’s possible that SA is moving closer to China because the US has asked. I imagine BRICS members will foresee this kind of tactic and have mitigations in place. But it wouldn’t be the first time that this tactic has been deployed. Then again, if SA membership is denied, the risk is that it has to move back closer to the US to keep it’s exports and imports balanced. It’s one development to keep an eye on.