Thirty nations have formally asked to join the BRICS economic union with the Summit only a month away. Anil Sooklal, the South African ambassador to the BRICS, acknowledged that the group of nations had all desired to join the expanding bloc. South Asian nations have shown a great deal of interest in the collective. The region is therefore looking for a stronger voice in the larger global scene. But given that the forthcoming summit is likely to focus on enlargement, it seems as though the bloc may be edging closer to its multipolar objectives. The rising prominence of the BRICS bloc has been an undeniable story of the year so far. The bloc has embraced de-dollarization efforts, has seen a host of countries eagerly awaiting their chance to join the growing collective. Subsequently, that list is seemingly growing by the day. Now, the South African BRICS ambassador, Sooklal, has stated that as many as 30 countries have informally requested to join BRICS. Specifically, Sooklal states that “25 to 30 countries” have “demonstrated a deep desire to become part of BRICS’ family.” In the same statement, Sooklal discussed the perception of the bloc by countries in the region. “Our track record for the past 15 years has demonstrated that we have been consistent and we have been calling for a total reform of the global governance architecture.” Additionally, Sooklal referred to the current global governance system as “outdated and totally out of sync with the global reality that we have in 2023,” in his statements. Moreover, this kind of perspective shows what has become the driving force for countries seeking entry: their clear commitment to change. Change that has been embraced by nations seeking to join the group. The West has long dominated the global power balance, yet BRICS is driving the global south to change that. The upcoming summit will go a long way in that pursuit. The leadership meeting in Johannesburg will present vital discussions like expansion, and economic growth.