BRICS has officially expanded its coalition, adding 13 new nations as partner countries during its recent summit held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024.
This year’s gathering, themed “Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security,” marks the sixteenth annual meeting of the bloc, aimed at enhancing economic integration with key emerging markets.
The new partner countries include Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), BRICS announced, “BRICS officially adds 13 new nations to the alliance as partner countries (not full members).”
Confirming Nigeria’s inclusion, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, stated, “Yes. It is true that Nigeria joined BRICS as a partner.” This development aligns with earlier remarks by Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, who expressed Nigeria’s intention to join BRICS as a full member within the next two years, leveraging its substantial economy and population.
Originally an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, BRICS expanded in 2010 to include South Africa. The group further welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full members earlier in 2024. The organization aims to foster trade, investment, development, security, and cooperation among leading emerging market economies.
The summit also served as a platform for discussing the future of global cooperation in a rapidly changing economic landscape.
