The BRICS alliance expanded its group's influence by officially adding 13 new countries as its next partner to expand its global reach.
The announcement came during the ongoing BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia marking a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape as the bloc seeks to increase cooperation with emerging economies around the world.
Newly added countries including Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam joined BRICS as partner countries although not yet full members.
This partnership opens the door for greater cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure development and political alignment.
The move is also seen as part of the BRICS strategy to diversify its influence beyond its original five members of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to create a more inclusive global economic framework.
This expansion is also a direct response to the growing need for alternatives to Western-dominated institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
With the inclusion of these 13 partner countries, BRICS has significantly expanded its global footprint to include countries from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Malaysia's involvement based on its potential as a major exporter of electronics and commodities, Malaysia's economic strength adds further diversity to the BRICS economic alliance in Southeast Asia.
For countries such as Nigeria, Indonesia and Turkey, the partnership offers an opportunity to expand their economic reach and influence on the global stage.
