Although a number of the BRICS have had an economic downturn, or at least a period of less success, the economic base of these countries is still growing. Last year the BRICS were almost as large as the American GPD. In 2007 the American economy was twice as big as the BRICS.
Due to this growth the importance of the group of countries is growing on the world stage. Jim O'Neill, former banker at Goldman Sachs who coined the acronym BRIC: "Despite a number of disappointments in some BRICS economies, lead by China and India, the collective weight in the worldwide GDP is rising and this is solidifying their positions."
On the world stage the BRICS are choosing each other more and more often. Russia and India are the biggest partners in the China-lead Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The countries also have their answer to the IMF and the World Bank in the New Development Bank with 100 billion dollars in stock. Greece could go to them for support. The BRICS seem to be open to this.
source: Australian Financial Review