The World in Initials

Nations of the world join in large and small groups to conduct trade, develop diplomatic relations, foster academic and other professional exchanges, support economic development, and to address justice issues.  Some of the more frequently-occurring acronyms of those groups appear below.

UN – United Nations. It is the largest multinational organization in the world, with 193 member states and two permanent non-member states, Palestine and the Holy See. UN headquarters are in New York, with additional main offices in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi.

BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In January 2024 Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates become members of BRICS.

MIKTA – Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia.

SCO – Shanghai Cooperation Organization – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

IBSA – India, Brazil, and South Africa.

ECOWAS – Economic Community of West African States – 15 nations

OAS – Organization of American States – 35 nations

G-7 – Group of 7 includes  Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US.  The European Union (EU) is a “non-enumerated member.”

G-20 – 19 of the world’s largest economies plus the EU.

ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations – 10 nations.

AU – African Union – 55 nations.

EU – European Union – 27 nations.

Pacific Group – 15 nations.

NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization – 30 nations.

OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries – 13 nations.

INTERPOL – International Criminal Police Organization – 195 nations.

OECD- Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation – 38 nations.

Financial organizations

WB – World Bank

IMF – International Monetary Fund

ADB – African Development Bank

NDB – New Development Bank for BRICS

CRA – Contingent Reserve Arrangement for BRICS