Post #739

🌏New membership & partners: How BRICS expanded in 2025 BRICS now boasts 10 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia. New membership: 🇮🇩Indonesia officially joined BRICS on January 6, 2025. What does it bring to the table? 📍fourth-most populous nation (281,562,465) 📍world's 16th-largest economy by nominal GDP and the 8th-largest by PPP 📍major exporter of crude petroleum and natural gas, supplier of rubber, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, sugar, tea, tobacco, copra, and spices 📍average GDP projected to grow 5.1% per year from 2024 to 2026, according to the World Bank. 🔍Who are the most recent BRICS partner states as of January 1, 2025? 🇧🇾Belarus: Russia’s closest security ally, positioned in the heart of Europe 🇧🇴Bolivia: Boasts the world's largest lithium reserves at around 23 mln tons 🇰🇿Kazakhstan: 9th-largest country in the world, with Caspian Sea ports of Aktau and Kuryk; mutual trade turnover with Russia already at $30 bln 🇨🇺Cuba: Rich in minerals like nickel and cobalt; strategic Caribbean location 🇲🇾Malaysia: Offers a “neutral and non-aligned” venue for strategic semiconductor hub via its National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) 🇹🇭Thailand: Offers the role of “bridge builder” with regional groupings, such as ASEAN, APEC, ACD, and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) 🇺🇬Uganda: Strategic location for regional trade and investment in East Africa 🇺🇿Uzbekistan: Active in projects such as the North-South Transport Corridor, connecting Russian ports with Iran 🇳🇬Nigeria: Africa's largest economy, with GDP growth projected to reach 3.6% per year in 2025-2026 👍Boost us | Chat | Stickers |@geopolitics_live