Official BRICS announcements or press releases

Cuba Among Nine New BRICS Partner Nations, Boosting Group's Global Reach to 45% of Population and 35% of GDP

Jan 2, 2025, 08:12 AM

On January 1, 2025, nine countries officially joined the BRICS group as partner countries, not as full members. The new partner nations are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. This expansion increases the BRICS group's representation to nearly 45% of the global population, covering 4.08 billion people out of a world population of 8.19 billion, and 35% of the world's GDP. Cuba's entry into the BRICS as a partner country is seen as a significant geopolitical move, potentially marking a new era for the island nation. The Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, expressed hope that BRICS could contribute to building a more just, democratic, equal, and sustainable international order, particularly in reforming the current international financial system. Cuba's potential within the bloc is highlighted by its development in biotechnology.