Malaysia ready to join BRICS tomorrow, says Prime Minister

During the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared that his country is prepared to join the BRICS group ‘at any time’. This information was disclosed by the Russian news agency Sputnik. According to Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia sees entry into the bloc as a strategic priority. ‘Yes, of course we want to join [BRICS]… If they accept tomorrow, we can join tomorrow,’ the prime minister stated on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting. The BRICS was established in 2006 as an alliance between Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. The group aims to strengthen economic and political cooperation among emerging countries and challenge the dominance of Western powers in international financial institutions. In recent years, the BRICS has significantly expanded its membership. In 2024, the bloc welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. By 2025, Indonesia became a full member. As of January 1, other countries — including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Malaysia, Uganda, and Uzbekistan — were recognized as official partner states of the group.