Asian Nations Eye BRICS Membership to Diversify Economic Ties
Countries seek to join the bloc to balance Western influence and access new financial resources.
- Thailand and Malaysia have announced bids to join the BRICS economic bloc.
- Interest in BRICS reflects frustration with Western-led financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
- The bloc has expanded to include Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Ethiopia, and Egypt this year.
- BRICS members have pooled $100 billion in foreign-currency reserves for mutual financial support.
- The next BRICS summit in October will invite additional non-member countries to participate.