Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nikondet Farankhun said in a press conference on December 26 that Thailand had accepted Russia’s invitation to become a BRICS partner country.
BRICS, made up of Russia, China, India, Brazil, and others, is a bloc of emerging economies often portrayed as a counterweight to the Western-led world.
“On October 31, Thailand received an invitation from Russia to become a BRICS partner country, which will hold the BRICS chairmanship in 2024,” Farankhun said.
“On December 24, a ministerial meeting was held and it was decided that Thailand would respond positively to the invitation.”
The government believes that joining the economic union will benefit Thailand in many areas.
“Joining BRICS will benefit Thailand by promoting trade, investment, food and energy security,” Farankhun said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the BRICS Forum in Kazan in October 2024. According to Moscow, 36 world leaders participated in the summit. After the event, President Putin said he would send invitations to several potential new partners.
At the beginning of 2024, four new countries joined BRICS: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. This is the first expansion of the group since December 2010, when South Africa joined.
After Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Thailand chose to remain neutral. Although Bangkok did not impose sanctions on Moscow or send weapons to Kiev, it later voted in favor of several UN resolutions calling for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.
UN Secretary-General visits Russia for BRICS summit despite criticism from Kiev
“This is a wrong choice that does not advance the cause of peace. It will only damage the reputation of the United Nations,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said.
