BRICS is starting to take on a more discernible identity

 . . . and one that ought to concern the West and its allies throughout the world:

The BRICS bloc of developing nations agreed on Thursday to admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates in a move aimed at accelerating its push to reshuffle a world order it sees as outdated.

In deciding in favour of an expansion - the bloc's first in 13 years - BRICS leaders left the door open to future enlargement as dozens more countries voiced interest in joining a grouping they hope can level the global playing field.

The expansion adds economic heft to BRICS, whose current members are China, the world's second largest economy, as well as Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa. It could also amplify its declared ambition to become a champion of the Global South.

Some factors could mitigate the drive toward unity:

But long-standing tensions could linger between members who want to forge the grouping into a counterweight to the West - notably China, Russia and now Iran - and those that continue to nurture close ties to the United States and Europe.

But what esprit de corps it's feeling right now is not something that smells very fragrant.

China's Xi is pretty fired up about the expansion. He no doubt sees it as an opportunity to breathe new life into the Belt and Road Initiative.  South Africa's Ramaphosa's public statement focuses on the more-fair-and-just-world-stage rhetoric. Putin, who attended remotely, also took the nicey-nice tack, saying BRICS isn't out to compete with anyone. No, that's not the Putinist way. He just invades.

As with any geostrategic development, things will not proceed in a linear fashion, but this is not a bunch united by any kind of vision with a recognizably moral component.