Trade/BRICS membership

Chatrudee Theparat

The cabinet approved a draft of Thailand’s proposal to apply for a membership of the BRICS group.

Government Spokesman Chai Watcharongke said the cabinet approved a draft of Thailand's proposal to apply to join the BRICS group, following a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOF).

BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China held the first summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009, with South Africa joining the bloc a year later. Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the organization on 1 January 2024.

Combined, the BRICS members encompass about 30% of the world's land surface and 45% of the global population.

BRICS has recently expanded its membership to take in new African members Egypt and Ethiopia, as well as Iran, Argentina among others. The expansion, known as BRICS Plus, is strengthening the ties between BRICS and Africa.

Chai Watcharongke

He said BRICS has a policy to expand cooperation with non-member countries. The group has also planned to invite countries that are non-members to participate as mechanisms in the summit meeting held in Kazan city, Russian between October 22 and 24, 2024.

It is an opportunity for Thailand to accelerate the process of joining as a group member in order to lift Thailand's role as a leading player in developing countries. It is an increased participation of Thailand in determining the direction of international economic policy.

In the 15th summit meeting of BRICS, the group approved a document for membership expansion. They are BRICS’ guidance, principles, standards and the process of expanding membership.

The process includes six steps and guiding principles for expanding membership of BRICS. BRICS has objectives to strengthen cooperation under 3 pillars:

( 1) politics and security

( 2) economy and finance

( 3) cultural cooperation among people to reform the United Nations with the goal to promote democracy. To increase the role of the developing countries to become representatives in the international forum.

Mr Chai said the Foreign Affairs Ministry has already drafted a proposal to apply for membership which specifies Thailand's vision for the importance of multilateralism and the increasing role of developing countries in the international arena.

“Becoming a member of BRICS will benefit Thailand in many dimensions such as upgrading Thailand's role in the international forum. An increasing Thailand's role to direct international economic policy and increase opportunities for Thailand to participate in the new world order.”

He said Thailand needs to submit an application within this May while there is a meeting of the senior official meeting of BRICS between June 6 and 11.