The Thai Foreign Ministry informed after the meeting between Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on December 1: "The Foreign Minister has asked India to support Thailand's desire to join BRICS during India's BRICS presidency in 2026".
The Thai Foreign Ministry said that the two sides also discussed foreign affairs issues in the context of increased geopolitical competition. Thailand reaffirms its readiness to cooperate with India in many multilateral frameworks to enhance regional integration.
In June 2024, Thailand sent a notice to Russia, which would then hold the BRICS presidency, about its desire to become a full member of the group.
In December of the same year, Thailand received a notice from Russia on the approval of Thailand's participation as a BRICS partner from January 1, 2025.
The Thai government later accepted the invitation, considering it an important step in the roadmap towards full membership.
BRICS was founded in 2006, originally consisting of four countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2011.
From January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the UAE and Ethiopia will become new members of BRICS. On January 6, 2025, Indonesia officially joined the bloc.
On January 1, 2025, Malaysia became a BRICS partner country. Many other countries have also received BRICS partner status, including: Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan. Nigeria joined the BRICS partner group on January 17 and Vietnam on June 14.
