Argentina has declined the invitation to join the BRICS group, which was initially planned. The country's new Foreign Affairs Minister, Diana Mondino, expressed doubts about the value of the bloc and questioned the need to join since China and Brazil are already primary trading partners. The decision is seen as a pivot in foreign policy under the new administration of President Javier Milei, who is a core supporter of the United States and has criticized China in the past. Argentina's refusal to join may prevent the BRICS group from becoming an 11-nation bloc as expected.