Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Malaysia, Uganda, and Uzbekistan are set to officially join BRICS as partner countries starting January 1, 2025. The announcement came from Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov on December 23, marking a significant expansion for the international bloc.
A Strategic Expansion
According to Ushakov, the decision to introduce a category for BRICS partner countries was one of the key outcomes of a recent summit. “Before the summit in Kazan, we received 35 applications for BRICS membership under various conditions,” he stated. This highlights the growing interest in the bloc, which is seen as an alternative global platform to challenge traditional Western-led alliances.
The new partners—spanning Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe—bring diverse economic and geopolitical perspectives. For instance, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand strengthen BRICS' presence in Southeast Asia, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan enhance its footprint in Central Asia. Meanwhile, Cuba, Bolivia, and Uganda represent growing interest from Latin America and Africa.
Membership Dynamics
Ushakov emphasized that the current expansion aligns with BRICS' mission to include "like-minded nations" and foster multilateral cooperation. The nine new partners were selected from 13 countries invited to join, and responses from four additional invitees are still awaited.
This strategic enlargement reflects BRICS’ ambition to increase its global influence. With over 20 countries expressing interest, the bloc is poised to further expand its membership in the future.
Significance for the New Partners
Joining BRICS provides the new partner countries with access to a collaborative platform for economic, political, and technological initiatives. For resource-rich nations like Kazakhstan and Uganda, it offers opportunities to boost trade. Southeast Asian economies, including Indonesia and Malaysia, can leverage BRICS' collective influence to strengthen their global standing.
The new partnerships signify BRICS’ commitment to diversifying its membership and addressing shared global challenges. By welcoming these nations, BRICS is reinforcing its position as a vital forum for developing economies in the multipolar world order.
