- Laos has expressed official interest in joining the BRICS alliance.
- Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone stated the country is studying the possibility of membership.
- The announcement came during the Russia-Laos business dialogue at the Eastern Economic Forum.
- Laos joins 45 other countries in expressing interest in BRICS, with 23 formally applying.
- A decision on new BRICS members, including Laos, could come by the end of the year.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos announced his country’s interest in joining the BRICS alliance on Friday. The statement was made during the Russia-Laos business dialogue at the Eastern Economic Forum, reflecting Laos’s intention to become part of the group.
According to Siphandone, the Lao government is actively studying the process of membership. The Prime Minister described BRICS as increasingly important and said joining the bloc aligns with Laos’s national interests.
Siphandone also commented on the changing global economic landscape, pointing out that countries in the Global South are working towards reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar. “We are interested in becoming a member of BRICS. At present, we are in the process of studying this issue,” he stated. He also thanked Russian leaders for the opportunity to participate in the forum, saying, “It is a great honour for me to visit Russia again after almost 38 years.”
Laos, located in Southeast Asia and bordered by Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand, joins a list of 45 countries that have shown interest in joining BRICS. Out of those, 23 have officially submitted membership applications, while 22 have only expressed intent.
BRICS, which expanded by four countries in 2023, typically reviews enlargement decisions annually. According to recent information, if BRICS decides on another expansion, new members could be approved by October of this year. However, there are no official disclosures yet about specific plans for enlargement in 2024.
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