🌐 Chapter 08 · Topic 05 · International Organisations

BRICS, SCO & Security Organisations

BRICS, SCO, NATO, QUAD, AUKUS, I2U2 — formation, members, and India’s role.

🌐 BRICS

Originally: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
First BRICS Summit: 2009 (Yekaterinburg, Russia); South Africa joined in 2010
No permanent HQ; presidency rotates annually
NDB (New Development Bank) — BRICS bank; HQ Shanghai; established 2015
BRICS Expansion (2024): At the 2023 Johannesburg Summit, 6 new members invited — Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Argentina (Argentina later declined). Expanded BRICS came into effect 1 January 2024
India hosted BRICS Summit in 2021 (virtual) and 2016 (Goa)
BRICS accounts for about 40% of world population and 25% of global GDP

🌐 SCO — Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

HQ: Beijing, China; Founded: 15 June 2001
Evolved from the Shanghai Five (1996) — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
Members (2024): China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus
India joined SCO as full member in 2017 (Astana Summit, along with Pakistan)
India hosted SCO Summit in 2023 (virtual)
Focus areas: security, counter-terrorism, economic cooperation, cultural exchanges
SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) — HQ Tashkent, Uzbekistan

🌐 Security & Strategic Organisations

Organisation	Members	Founded	Key Fact
NATO	32 (as of 2024)	1949	North Atlantic Treaty Organization; HQ Brussels; collective defence (Article 5); Sweden joined 2024
QUAD	USA, India, Japan, Australia	2007 (revived 2017)	Quadrilateral Security Dialogue; free and open Indo-Pacific; India is a member
AUKUS	Australia, UK, USA	2021	Security pact; nuclear-powered submarines for Australia; India is NOT a member
I2U2	India, Israel, UAE, USA	2021	Economic grouping; food security, clean energy, infrastructure; India is a member
Five Eyes	USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand	1941	Intelligence-sharing alliance; India is NOT a member
IPEF	14 countries including India	2022	Indo-Pacific Economic Framework; trade, supply chains, clean economy, fair economy
Malabar Exercise	India, USA, Japan	1992	Naval exercise; Australia joined 2020

⭐ QUAD — Quadrilateral Security Dialogue: The QUAD was first established in 2007 following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami response. It was revived in 2017 and elevated to the leaders’ level in 2021. The QUAD comprises the USA, India, Japan, and Australia. Its stated goal is to promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Key initiatives: QUAD Vaccine Partnership, QUAD Climate Working Group, QUAD Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group. India’s participation in QUAD reflects its strategic shift towards the Indo-Pacific.

📌 I2U2 — New Grouping: I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE, USA) was established in 2021 as a new economic grouping focused on joint investments in water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. The first I2U2 Leaders’ Summit was held virtually in July 2022. The name “I2U2” stands for India, Israel, UAE, and USA. It is sometimes called the “West Asian Quad.” The grouping aims to leverage the complementary strengths of its four members.

✅ Revision Checklist

✅ BRICS = Brazil + Russia + India + China + South Africa = first summit 2009
✅ BRICS expanded 2024 = Egypt + Ethiopia + Iran + Saudi Arabia + UAE (Argentina declined)
✅ NDB = BRICS bank = Shanghai = 2015
✅ SCO = Beijing = 15 June 2001 = India joined 2017 (Astana Summit)
✅ SCO members = China + Russia + India + Pakistan + 5 Central Asian + Iran + Belarus
✅ NATO = Brussels = 1949 = 32 members = collective defence (Article 5)
✅ QUAD = USA + India + Japan + Australia = free and open Indo-Pacific
✅ AUKUS = Australia + UK + USA = 2021 = nuclear submarines = India NOT a member
✅ I2U2 = India + Israel + UAE + USA = 2021 = economic grouping
✅ Five Eyes = USA + UK + Canada + Australia + New Zealand = intelligence sharing = India NOT a member