BRICS expands: Russia confirms nine nations to join as partner states from January 2025

Addis Ababa, December 24, 2024 (FMC) – Russia on Monday (Dec. 23) confirmed that several countries have agreed to join BRICS as partner states, with the official status set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

On 1 January 2025, Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan will become BRICS partner countries, TV BRICS reported on Monday, citing Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov.

According to Yury Ushakov, these countries have reiterated their willingness to receive such a status. He also noted that Moscow is waiting for a response from another four countries.

The partner countries will also be able to make their own proposals, but will not take part in agreeing documents and voting.

The BRICS states supported the modalities of this category and welcomed the interest of other countries in the group in the Kazan Declaration of the XVI BRICS Summit. The summit agreed on a list of states that were subsequently invited to become partners of the association.