BRICS and Southeast Asia's Balancing Strategy
In the context of increasingly volatile geopolitical competition, Southeast Asian nations are strengthening cooperation with BRICS to diversify economic relations, expand diplomatic space, and consolidate strategic autonomy. Instead of choosing sides in relations between major powers, these countries view BRICS as a complementary channel for cooperation to mitigate risks and adapt to the changing international order.
Differences in approach, similarities in interests
The increasing participation of Southeast Asian nations in BRICS reflects adjustments in foreign policy in response to global economic and geopolitical changes. At the recent BRICS summit in New Delhi, India, leaders from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines exchanged views on the future of the global economy and development challenges. While varying degrees of engagement, all countries expressed interest in expanding partnerships, diversifying markets, and enhancing their international voice.
Indonesia is set to become a full member of BRICS in 2025, while Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam join as partner countries. The Philippines is also promoting interaction with the bloc to expand economic and diplomatic cooperation. This difference shows that countries are not pursuing a unified model of participation, but rather considering their own interests and conditions to determine the appropriate level of engagement. For Indonesia – Southeast Asia's largest economy and one of the world's leading nickel producers – BRICS opens opportunities to boost deep processing industries, especially in the electric vehicle supply chain, while strengthening the voice of developing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. Malaysia aims to diversify economic relations and reform global governance, while maintaining deep ties with Western and Asian markets. Meanwhile, Thailand hopes that its partnership with BRICS will help expand its markets and consolidate its position as a regional economic hub. Vietnam is expanding cooperation with BRICS while maintaining economic and trade relations with numerous partners and pursuing an independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy. The Philippines is interested in strengthening cooperation in areas such as supply chains and economic connectivity, while continuing to maintain existing partnerships. These differences in approach reflect the specific priorities and interests of each country in its relations with BRICS.
Beyond economic cooperation, BRICS also serves as a forum for exchanging views on international issues such as trade, global governance reform, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. While ASEAN focuses on regional cooperation and integration, BRICS creates an additional channel for dialogue on global issues, while promoting the participation of emerging economies and developing countries in international discussions. In the future, if BRICS continues to expand its cooperation mechanisms in finance, trade, and investment, these frameworks could create more opportunities for ASEAN countries. Therefore, maintaining and developing relations with BRICS is a direction of cooperation that countries in the region can consider based on their development needs, national interests, and foreign policy orientation, not necessarily tied to becoming full members.
BRICS in its strategy of diversification and strategic autonomy
Southeast Asian countries' interest in BRICS is linked to the need to diversify foreign relations and maintain proactive policymaking. By expanding relations with multiple partners, countries in the region can mitigate risks, protect national interests, and enhance their ability to respond to external fluctuations. This approach is significant as competition among major powers increasingly impacts multiple sectors, from security, trade, and investment to technology and supply chains.
Economically, BRICS brings together many large emerging economies, creating opportunities for Southeast Asian countries to expand their markets, attract investment, and develop financial cooperation. Initiatives promoting payments in local currencies and strengthening the role of developing countries in international institutions are also considered in discussions on global economic governance reform. These issues are linked to the goal of strengthening cooperation and enhancing the voice of developing economies, including ASEAN countries. However, expanding relations with BRICS does not mean replacing existing economic and strategic partners. The United States, the European Union, Japan, and many other partners still play important roles in trade, investment, security, and technology for Southeast Asia. Therefore, cooperation with BRICS is placed within the overall foreign policy of each country, alongside maintaining and developing relations with other partners.
The BRICS cooperation mechanism facilitates the expansion of relations among countries without necessarily being tied to a single geopolitical alliance. Through various forms of cooperation, Southeast Asian nations can strengthen connections with BRICS members while maintaining relations with the West. The partner country mechanism allows countries that are not yet full members to participate in some of the bloc's activities. The case of the Philippines shows that seeking economic cooperation opportunities with BRICS can go hand in hand with existing strategic partnerships. Furthermore, BRICS expands dialogue with numerous regional and international organizations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council, BIMSTEC, the Eurasian Economic Union, the African Union, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. These channels of exchange contribute to broadening discussions on development, trade, and economic cooperation between the regions.
Against a backdrop of ongoing global economic volatility, BRICS continues to promote trade, investment, and financial cooperation among its members and partners. However, differences in interests and perspectives on international issues still necessitate enhanced coordination. For Southeast Asia, cooperation with BRICS opens opportunities for access to markets, development resources, and international dialogue channels. The effectiveness of this process will depend on the ability to meet the specific needs of each country and the degree to which it fits within existing cooperation frameworks.
Effective cooperation should be based on concrete benefits
Relations between Southeast Asia and BRICS continue to expand and evolve. The partnership country mechanism, introduced at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, has created additional avenues for cooperation for countries not yet full members. However, the level of participation and the direction of cooperation with BRICS still vary depending on the conditions and priorities of each country. Interest in BRICS is linked to shifts in the international order, such as the trend towards economic fragmentation, competition among major powers, and the need for reform of global governance mechanisms to strengthen the voice of developing countries.
Observers believe that expanding relations with BRICS provides Southeast Asian countries with more options for economic cooperation and participation in international forums. However, BRICS also faces challenges from competition among cooperation mechanisms and differences in interests and priorities among members. Differences in strategic orientations can affect the ability to coordinate and develop common cooperation mechanisms within the bloc. For ASEAN, the challenge is to strengthen cooperation with BRICS while maintaining its central role in the regional structure. The prospects for cooperation will depend on the institutional development of BRICS, the ability to meet the needs of each country, and the degree of compatibility with existing cooperation frameworks. Therefore, to assess the practical effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms, it is necessary to base the evaluation on the specific benefits they bring.
The expansion of relations between Southeast Asian countries and the BRICS reflects a trend toward diversifying foreign relations and seeking more opportunities for cooperation. Instead of replacing traditional partners, BRICS is seen as an additional channel for expanding markets and enhancing international exchange. The effectiveness of this process will depend on the ability to translate cooperation commitments into concrete results, while maintaining relationships with other partners and ensuring ASEAN's role in the region.