section_path: Countries that have applied for membership/Previous applicants
section_name: Previous applicants
paragraph_text: Previous applicants
  
  In 2011, Indonesia considered the possibility of joining BRICS. In 2022, the country formally submitted an application, but Indonesian president Joko Widodo decided not to join the group and to withdraw the application because it was considered a rushed decision. Widodo said that in future he would probably reapply, but Indonesia is out for now. Widodo never reapplied before he stepped down as president in 2024. However, the consideration of Indonesia joining BRICS is said to be decided by President Prabowo Subianto according to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. Indonesia has restarted the application process as announced by Foreign Minister Sugiono after the 16th BRICS summit. Indonesia was originally invited to be an observer partner state, but instead opted for full membership, which went into effect in January 2025.
  
  In 2022, Argentina formally submitted an application for BRICS membership under Alberto Fernández 's government. Argentina was invited to join at the subsequent 2023 summit, but the country declined the offer to join the bloc in the aftermath of pro-Western Javier Milei 's victory in that year's presidential election.
  
  Saudi Arabia was also invited to join at the 2023 summit, with full membership was scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2024. However, Saudi Arabia did not join BRICS at the start of 2024 as had been planned, and it announced in mid-January that it was still considering the matter. As of April 2024, the matter is still under consideration.
  
  Algeria had previously applied for membership in 2023, but later rejected it in September 2024, making Algeria the second country after Argentina to decline and stop its application.
  
  Following the 2024 BRICS summit, Brazil blocked Venezuela's application to the bloc, largely due to the disputed 2024 Venezuelan elections and the ongoing Venezuelan crisis. Venezuela recalled its ambassador from Brazil in response.