Malaysia Prepares to Join BRICS

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his country has decided to join the BRICS bloc, becoming the latest country to participate in an expanded group.

“We indicated that we would join the group,” Anwar said in an interview with Chinese newspaper Guansha. We have made a decision in this regard. "We will soon take official measures for this."

The BRICS group of emerging market countries - an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - will double in size at the beginning of 2024. The bloc links some of the world's largest energy producers with some of the largest consumers in developing countries. Which may enhance the group's economic influence in a world dominated by the west.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Ethiopia and Egypt have accepted invitations to join the group as of January 1. Argentina was also invited, but President Javier Milley, who took office on December 10, decided not to join. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said last month that his country expects to join the BRICS group during its summit scheduled to be held next October.

Ibrahim's comments come as China seeks to deepen its ties with smaller countries such as Malaysia that have asserted their neutrality in the increasingly intense competition between the United States and China. 

The PM will witness the signing of several memorandums of understanding and agreements, including those related to the digital economy, green development and the export of agricultural commodities to China, according to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.