During this year’s BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, it was decided to expand cooperation with new partner countries. Out of 30 interested nations, 13 were granted partner status, which, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, could serve as a gateway to future full membership.
The 13 new partners are Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam – countries that mainly represent regions often referred to in the BRICS cooperation as the “Global South”.
Among the partner countries, four Southeast Asian nations in particular – Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand – are now expected to strengthen their economic cooperation within the region through their partnership. Turkey and Belarus, both bordering Europe, also appear to be interesting additions to the BRICS circle, not least from a geostrategic but also, of course, an economic perspective.
The BRICS, which originally consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has grown rapidly in recent years. Earlier this year, countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates joined as full members. However, in June, the group decided to pause new membership applications to focus on integrating these new members. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the new partner country status as a potential gateway for countries to apply for full membership in the future.
No alternative payment system
The Kazan summit also discussed an alternative payment system between the BRICS countries, but this did not materialize.
– As for SWIFT or some alternatives, we have not created and are not creating any alternatives for anything, but nevertheless the issue is very important today, Putin said.
The BRICS summit also addressed a range of global issues, including economic cooperation, so-called sustainable development and local currency trade. The participation of partner countries is part of the BRICS’ stated ambition to develop a more inclusive and equitable global system and to reduce dependence on Western economic institutions.