Abstract. The article analyzes the agenda and the outcomes of the third rotating presidency of the Republic of South Africa in the BRICS, the decisions of the XV BRICS summit held on 22–24 August 2023 in Johannesburg, first of all, concerning the creation of a single interstate unit of account for the participating countries, alternative to the US dollar, as well as a new membership expansion of this intergovernmental association. Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia were invited to join the BRICS as full members. The BRICS is faced with the challenge of effectively combining the principles and objectives of expanding and deepening the work of the association.