Nigeria and twelve other nations have officially become partner countries of the BRICS intergovernmental organization, rather than full members. This announcement was made during the recent BRICS summit held in Kazan, Russia.
The other twelve countries welcomed as partners include Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. This expansion underscores BRICS’s commitment to enhancing partnerships with emerging economies worldwide.
Earlier this year, in January 2024, four countries Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined BRICS as full members, further diversifying the coalition.
BRICS, an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represents a collective of prominent emerging market economies. The organization focuses on promoting trade, investment, peace, security, development, and collaboration among its members.
The inaugural BRIC leaders’ summit took place in Russia in 2009, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined the group in 2011, leading to the rebranding of BRIC to BRICS.
The ongoing 16th annual BRICS summit, themed “Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security,” is currently taking place in Kazan from October 22 to 24, 2024, providing a platform for discussing strategies to enhance global cooperation.
