Nigeria has been accepted as a “partner country” in the Brics group, according to a statement from Brazil, the current chair of the bloc, on Saturday.
Brics began in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined in 2010, forming a counterbalance to the G7 industrialised nations. Over the past year, the group expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia gained full membership earlier this year.
Saudi Arabia has received an invitation to join as a full member, while Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have formally applied. Around 40 other countries have expressed interest.
Nigeria now becomes the ninth Brics partner country. It joins Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The Brazilian government notes Nigeria’s significant role as Africa’s largest economy and the sixth most populous country globally. Its interests align with those of Brics members.
Nigeria also plays a key role in strengthening South-South cooperation and advocating for global governance reform—issues that Brazil prioritises during its presidency.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Brics countries over any moves to weaken the US dollar. In response, Brics has committed to exploring alternatives for trading in local currencies rather than the US dollar.
