Hanoi, Vietnam – June 14, 2025 – In a move set to enhance its international standing and foster greater South-South cooperation, Vietnam has officially been admitted as a “partner country” to BRICS, the influential bloc of major emerging economies.
The announcement was made by the Brazilian government on Friday, highlighting BRICS’s ongoing expansion and its growing significance on the global stage.
This admission marks a pivotal moment for Vietnam, making it the tenth nation to achieve this status. As a “partner country,” Vietnam will now have the valuable opportunity to participate in BRICS summits and various discussion sessions, offering a direct conduit for its voice and interests within a group that collectively represents a substantial portion of the world’s population and economic output.
Earlier this year, Vietnam had already signaled its readiness to explore closer ties with BRICS, whose original members – Brazil, Russia, India, and China – laid the foundation for a new paradigm in global economic and political discourse. Brazil, currently holding the BRICS presidency for 2025, warmly welcomed Vietnam’s decision.
A statement from the Brazilian government underscored Vietnam’s strategic importance: “Vietnam stands out as a relevant actor in Asia. Its efforts in favor of South-South cooperation and sustainable development reinforce its convergence with the interests of the group.” This recognition validates Vietnam’s proactive foreign policy and its commitment to fostering equitable and sustainable global development.
Why This Matters for Vietnam:
For readers of Vietnam Insider, this development carries significant implications:
- Enhanced Diplomatic Clout: Joining BRICS as a partner country elevates Vietnam’s diplomatic profile, granting it a platform to engage with some of the world’s fastest-growing economies on critical issues ranging from trade and investment to climate change and global governance.
- Economic Opportunities: This partnership could unlock new avenues for trade, investment, and technological cooperation with BRICS member states and other partner countries. For Vietnamese businesses, this means potential access to vast new markets and opportunities for collaborative ventures.
- Strengthening South-South Cooperation: Vietnam’s alignment with BRICS reinforces its dedication to South-South cooperation, a cornerstone of its foreign policy. This move strengthens solidarity among developing nations and promotes collective solutions to shared challenges, aligning with Vietnam’s long-term vision for a multipolar world.
- Diversifying International Partnerships: As traditional geopolitical landscapes shift, Vietnam’s engagement with BRICS reflects its strategic imperative to diversify international partnerships and reduce over-reliance on any single bloc or power. This enhances Vietnam’s resilience and flexibility in navigating complex global dynamics.
- Sharing Development Experiences: Vietnam’s own remarkable economic development story and its experiences in sustainable growth can serve as valuable insights for other BRICS nations, fostering a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and best practices.
BRICS: A Growing Counterweight
Founded in 2009 and later expanded to include South Africa, the BRICS group has recently undergone a significant expansion, welcoming Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full members. This ongoing growth underscores BRICS’s ambition to become a more potent diplomatic and economic counterweight to traditional Western powers, advocating for a more inclusive and representative global order.
Beyond its core members, BRICS has also extended its “partner country” status to a diverse group of nations, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. This expanding network highlights BRICS’s increasing reach and its appeal to countries seeking alternative avenues for international collaboration and influence.
Vietnam’s new status within this evolving framework positions it at the heart of a dynamic and increasingly influential global grouping, promising a future of deeper engagement and expanded opportunities on the world stage.
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Source: Vietnam Insider