Belarus officially joined BRICS as a partner country after President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed an acceptance letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 5, 2024. This move, finalized during Russia’s chairmanship of BRICS, allows Belarus to engage in BRICS meetings and events without full member commitments, such as voting rights. Belarus emphasized its support for the group’s goals of promoting multilateralism and economic cooperation. The country’s partner status is part of BRICS’ broader strategy of expanding its influence, which has recently seen the addition of various countries as partners.
Formal Acceptance and Process
On November 5, 2024, President Lukashenko signed an official letter addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, indicating Belarus’s intent to join BRICS as a partner. The handover of this document was conducted by Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov to Russian Ambassador Boris Gryzlov. The process, in line with established BRICS protocols, mandates a formal response to written invitations from member states before a country can be recognized as a partner.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that with the completion of these formalities, Belarus is now entitled to participate in certain BRICS activities, including specialized summits and foreign ministers’ meetings. However, partner status does not equate to full membership; it provides limited participation without the comprehensive rights afforded to full BRICS members.
What Does BRICS Partnership Mean for Belarus?
Becoming a BRICS partner country comes with opportunities and limitations. While Belarus is now part of the BRICS circle, it lacks full member status, which means it does not hold voting rights or the ability to fully participate in key decision-making processes. However, the partnership allows Belarus to join high-level dialogues, including summit sessions, trade discussions, and national security meetings. The nation can also endorse BRICS’ final communiques.
President Lukashenko emphasized that BRICS represents not only a symbol but one of the foundational pillars of a multipolar world. He also expressed satisfaction with the timing, highlighting that achieving this status during Russia’s chairmanship carries additional significance. He commended BRICS for fostering a spirit of multilateralism, mutual respect, and the push toward a multipolar world order—an idea central to the group’s collective vision.
Belarus’s motivation to join BRICS aligns with these principles. The country views participation in BRICS as a pathway to strengthen economic ties, promote fair global practices, and collaborate on issues like trade and security without exclusive allegiance to Western structures.
Implications for Belarus and BRICS
Becoming a BRICS partner grants Belarus opportunities to engage in dialogues and partnerships that could bolster its economic prospects and political leverage. For BRICS, welcoming partners like Belarus signals an ambition to expand its network and influence. This step is consistent with the bloc’s recent strategy to bring new countries into its sphere as partners rather than full members, fostering broad-based collaboration while maintaining decision-making control among the original states.
Belarus’s participation could also enhance its economic diversification and access to markets within BRICS member countries. The platform could offer new opportunities for trade, technology exchange, and political dialogue, aligning with Belarus’s broader aim to build a more balanced foreign policy approach.
Can Partner Status Lead to Full Membership?
Although Belarus has gained recognition as a partner, the road to becoming a full BRICS member remains uncertain. Current partners are involved in select activities but do not have comprehensive representation within the group. Whether Belarus or any other partner country could achieve full membership will likely depend on shifts in BRICS’ strategic outlook and policies.
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