Thailand Seeks Full Membership in BRICS Bloc
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the country has formally requested India, a key member of the BRICS group, to support Bangkok’s bid for full membership in the economic bloc. The request was made during a meeting between Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
According to a statement released by Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, the Thai government hopes that during India’s presidency of BRICS in 2026, the process of Thailand’s accession as a full member will be facilitated. The two officials also discussed bilateral cooperation and specific foreign policy issues during their meeting.
Previously, in June 2024, Thailand had officially informed Russia—then holding the rotating presidency of BRICS—of its intention to become a full member of the bloc. In response, Russia offered Thailand the status of a “BRICS Partner Country,” effective from January 1, 2025. Bangkok accepted the offer and described it as a significant step toward full membership in the group.
BRICS, composed of emerging economies, was initially established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined in 2011. Since then, other countries including Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Nigeria have joined as full or partner members.
Thailand’s efforts to join the bloc reflect a growing trend among developing nations to take more active roles in alternative global structures and to strengthen their regional influence—opportunities that remain increasingly out of reach for Afghanistan due to political instability and poverty under Taliban rule.
