The BRICS TimesThailand’s Foreign Minister requests New Delhi’s backing for full BRICS membership during India’s 2026 presidency. Bilateral talks held with EAM S Jaishankar in New Delhi focused on geopolitical shifts and joint security efforts.
Plea for BRICS Membership
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow visited India. He formally requested India’s support for Thailand’s BRICS entry. This request is for full membership under New Delhi’s chairmanship. India will hold the presidency of the Global South grouping in 2026. A Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) statement confirmed this on Monday evening.
Discussions on Global Challenges
The two senior diplomats discussed their nations’ foreign policies. They addressed the current complex geopolitical landscape. “Thailand is ready to cooperate with India,” the Thai statement said. It added this cooperation will be across various multilateral frameworks. The goal is strengthening regional integration efforts.
India-Thailand Ties and Joint Security
Dr. Jaishankar described the India-Thailand relationship as very “close and friendly.” He stated India’s ‘Act East’ Policy complements Thailand’s ‘Act West’ Policy. He also emphasized that Thailand is an “important maritime neighbour” for India. The talks covered political issues and joint initiatives. Specifically, they focused on tackling emerging threats like online scams. They also discussed providing assistance to Indian scam victims. The situation in Myanmar was also part of the conversation. Tensions on the Cambodia-Thailand border were also discussed.
BRICS Expansion Context
The most recent BRICS expansion happened at the Kazan Summit. This event took place in October 2024. Six new member countries were admitted to the group. These were Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Kazan Summit also established the “partner country model.” Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan were included. These nations were inducted into the new partner country framework. Vietnam was also inducted as a BRICS partner. This happened at the recent BRICS Summit in Rio De Janeiro this year.
