Uzbekistan will officially receive the status of a BRICS (bloc uniting Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) partner state from 1 January 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Gazeta.uz.
In October, president of Russia Vladimir Putin announced at the BRICS Plus summit in Kazan that the bloc, established in June 2006, developed a framework for expanding its membership by introducing a new category of partner states.
In an earlier interview with Gazeta.uz, first deputy foreign minister Bahromjon Aloyev emphasized Uzbekistan’s step-by-step approach to enhancing its role within BRICS.
“The authority of BRICS is growing worldwide. The number of countries cooperating with BRICS and aspiring to join is increasing. We are also moving in this direction and will undoubtedly develop cooperation with BRICS countries in the future,” Aloyev stated.
He highlighted that the main focus of Uzbekistan’s collaboration with BRICS would center on trade, economic partnerships, investment, transportation, green energy and digitalization.
On 23 December, Russian president’s aide Yuri Ushakov announced that several countries, including Uzbekistan, Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand and Uganda, would gain partner status from 1 January.
Partner states will be invited to participate in specific sessions at BRICS summits and foreign ministers' meetings. “We also find it appropriate to involve partner states in high-level meetings on security issues, parliamentary forums and other events,” Ushakov noted.
