Nigeria has officially been admitted as a “partner country” of the BRICS group, according to a statement from Brazil, the current chair of the bloc. BRICS, originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2009, added South Africa in 2010, creating an influential coalition of developing economies aimed at providing a counterbalance to the dominance of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations.
Nigeria’s admission highlights the growing influence and expansion of BRICS, which has increasingly welcomed nations from across the global South. In 2024, the bloc added Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates to its ranks, further broadening its reach and geopolitical impact. Saudi Arabia has also been invited to join, and countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have formally applied for membership, with other nations expressing interest.
As the ninth partner country, Nigeria joins an expanding group that includes Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. These partner nations collaborate with BRICS on various initiatives, strengthening the bloc’s economic and political influence on the global stage.
The inclusion of Nigeria underscores the strategic importance of the African continent to BRICS, offering potential for enhanced trade, investment, and diplomatic ties between member countries and African nations.
References:
- BRICS Official Communications: Information on Nigeria’s new partnership status and the group’s expansion efforts.
- Global Economic Partnerships: Overview of BRICS’ role as a counterbalance to Western-dominated global economic structures.