BRICS continues to expand: another state has become a “partner” of the organization
20 January 09:55
The BRICS is expanding its circle of partners – Nigeria has officially joined the grouping. This was announced on January 17 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, which currently holds the presidency of the organization, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
Nigeria has become the ninth BRICS partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The partner country status was introduced at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.
“With the sixth largest population in the world and the largest in Africa, as well as being one of the continent’s leading economies, Nigeria shares common interests with other BRICS members. The country plays an active role in strengthening South-South cooperation and reforming global governance,”
– the statement said.
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BRICS
BRICS is an international organization that informally represents the “Global South”, the largest developing countries by area and population. Established in 2009 to increase investment opportunities, it has evolved into a geopolitical bloc whose governments meet annually at official summits. Initially, the organization was composed of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC), and in 2011, South Africa joined, after which the acronym changed to BRICS.
At the beginning of 2024, the organization expanded significantly, with Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the UAE joining, and on January 6, 2025, Indonesia became a full member, becoming the first Southeast Asian country in the bloc and the 10th member of the BRICS. Another 15 countries have submitted official applications to join the organization, including Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, and others. To join, it is necessary to obtain unanimous support from all member states.
Together, the BRICS members cover about 30% of the world’s land area and 45% of the world’s population. The BRICS countries are considered (or at least consider themselves) the main geopolitical rival of the G7 bloc of leading developed economies, implementing competitive initiatives such as the BRICS Development Bank, the BRICS Contingency Reserve Arrangement, BRICS Payments (analogous to SWIFT), and other joint projects.
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Nigeria
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and one of the continent’s largest economies. Located in West Africa, the country has significant natural potential, including large reserves of oil, gas, coal, and other minerals. As a result, Nigeria is the world’s leading oil exporter, accounting for a significant portion of the state budget and gross domestic product (GDP). At the same time, the country is actively developing agriculture, which remains the main source of employment for millions of Nigerians.
Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa in terms of nominal GDP, which in 2023 amounted to about $506 billion, ranking the country 27th in the world by this indicator. At the same time, it ranks much lower in terms of GDP per capita, at about 138th, with an average of $2,400 per person annually. This indicates significant economic inequality and low living standards for the majority of the population.
According to the Human Development Index (HDI), Nigeria ranks 163rd out of 191 countries (according to the United Nations Development Program, 2022). This indicator takes into account average life expectancy, access to education and healthcare, income, etc. Despite its rich natural resources and potential for development, a significant portion of the population still lives below the poverty line, and access to basic services remains limited.
