Thailand has officially asked India to support the country's bid to join the BRICS. The information was published following a meeting between Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeu and Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar.
The ministry's statement emphasizes: "Thailand is seeking support for Thailand's membership in the BRICS, with India heading the BRICS in 2026."
The talks between the two ministers focused on foreign policy cooperation and prospects for expanding multilateral cooperation formats. Bangkok confirmed its interest in strengthening strategic ties with New Delhi and its willingness to participate in initiatives aimed at developing the Asian region and enhancing the role of the Global South in world politics.
Thailand's desire to join BRICS reflects a broader trend: the association is becoming a center of gravity for emerging economies seeking an alternative to Western institutions. With the changing global financial architecture, ASEAN countries are increasingly considering participation in BRICS as a tool for expanding trade, new investment channels, and access to technological cooperation.
The importance of the association is also emphasized in Russia. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said earlier that the BRICS countries "are growing rapidly and are able to compete with developed economies." He noted that in a number of developing countries, the income level of the population is already comparable to or exceeds that of Western countries. "Developed countries are unwilling to give way to the BRICS countries," Siluanov stressed.
For Thailand, joining BRICS means access to the market of countries that account for more than 30% of the global economy by PPP, as well as the opportunity to participate in new payment mechanisms, the BRICS+ initiative and the infrastructure programs of the New Development Bank. Experts point out that the Collective South seeks to reduce dependence on the dollar, and Southeast Asian states can play a key role in shaping trans-regional supply chains.
India, which will become the BRICS chairman in 2026, actually gets the opportunity to determine the parameters of the next wave of expansion. Thailand's support may become part of New Delhi's strategic course to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries, as well as to strengthen its position in the Indo-Pacific region.
