ASIATODAY.ID, MOSCOW – Africa’s fourth-largest economy and the world’s sixth-most populous nation with over 228 million people, Nigeria, has been formally welcomed into the broader group of BRICS partner states, according to Brazil, the bloc’s current rotating president.
The Foreign Ministry of Brazil announced on Friday that Nigeria has become the ninth official BRICS partner, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
“In exercising its pro tempore presidency of BRICS, the Brazilian government announces today, January 17, 2025, the formal admission of Nigeria as a partner country of the grouping,” the ministry stated.
The Brazilian government praised Nigeria for its “convergent interests with other members of BRICS” and its “active role in strengthening South-South cooperation and in reforming global governance.”
BRICS was established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2011. Originally envisioned as a platform for mutual investment and financial stability, the group has since expanded its agenda to include security and global governance.
In 2024, the bloc extended its full membership to Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. In January 2025, Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country with over 270 million people, also became a full BRICS member.
The new ‘partner country’ status was approved at the BRICS summit in October, hosted by Russia in Kazan, and is intended to serve as an alternative to membership after more than 30 nations applied to join the organization. (RT)
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