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Russia announced today that nine countries will officially join BRICS as partner states starting January 1, 2025, a move aimed at expanding the bloc’s influence and collaboration worldwide. The announcement was made by Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting one of the key outcomes of the recent BRICS summit in Kazan.
The countries confirmed to take on the status include Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. Invitations have also been extended to four additional nations, whose responses are still pending.
The creation of an “Partner states” category marks a new chapter for BRICS, which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Ushakov explained that this new tier aims to strengthen ties with a broader range of countries, enhancing economic and geopolitical collaboration.
The inclusion of countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America demonstrates BRICS’ commitment to regional diversity. Each new partner state brings unique economic and geopolitical strengths to the table, potentially enriching the bloc’s collective influence.
Ushakov also revealed that Eritrea has expressed interest in collaborating with BRICS, although it has yet to receive formal partner state status. The Kremlin indicated that more responses from invited countries are expected in the coming weeks.
The decision to expand BRICS through the partner states category underscores the bloc’s ambition to position itself as a counterweight to Western-led economic alliances. By incorporating more countries, BRICS aims to bolster its role in global economic governance and provide an alternative framework for cooperation among emerging markets.
As these countries prepare to assume their new roles within the BRICS framework, observers will closely watch how the partner states contribute to the bloc’s objectives. With its expanded membership, BRICS is poised to deepen its engagement on key global issues and enhance its influence on the world stage.
The official integration of these states on January 1, 2025, could signal a new era of expanded collaboration for BRICS and its partners.
