BRICS strengthens ties with Global South as Nigeria joins as partner country

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, holding the BRICS presidency, has officially announced Nigeria's accession as a partner country to the BRICS association.

In a statement issued on January 17, 2025, the Brazilian government confirmed Nigeria's new status as a partner of the BRICS community, Caliber.Az reports referencing Russian media.

The foreign ministry emphasized that both BRICS and Nigeria share common interests, particularly in strengthening cooperation among countries of the Global South and advocating for reforms within international organizations.

BRICS, originally founded in 2009, initially included Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining the alliance in 2010. The group was created as a counterbalance to the Group of Seven (G7) developed nations, which include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

In 2024, BRICS expanded to incorporate Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The recent addition of Indonesia underscores the group’s efforts to increase its global influence. Prior to Indonesia’s membership, BRICS represented 46% of the global population and 35% of global GDP.

Saudi Arabia has been invited to join BRICS but has yet to respond, while Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have formally applied for membership.

The 16th BRICS summit, held in October 2024 in Kazan, Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, focused on promoting local currencies and reducing reliance on the dollar. This shift sparked criticism from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened the bloc with “100 per cent tariffs.”

Looking ahead, the next BRICS summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro in July 2025, marking a significant step in the group’s ongoing efforts to shape the future of global economics and governance.

By Tamilla Hasanova