Thailand joined BRICS as a partner country on 1 January 2025, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The announcement came from Russia, the current BRICS chair. BRICS comprises nine members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, the UAE, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia. It recently included 13 partners, among them Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The Ministry says the partnership extends a cooperation track with BRICS begun in 2017. Thailand expects to enhance trade, investment, and tourism with these emerging markets. It also hopes to serve as a link between BRICS and regional groupings like ASEAN, APEC, ACD, and BIMSTEC. The BRICS chair will rotate to Brazil in 2025, presenting further opportunities for Thailand to deepen its engagement. Full membership remains a goal.