Thailand Joins BRICS, Strengthening Economic and Global Alliances

[snoop1130]

Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa | Photo via AmbPoohMaris/X

 

Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, has robustly defended the nation’s recent decision to join the BRICS alliance, asserting that it aligns well with national interests and will provide significant economic and cooperative benefits. Addressing the Senate on March 10, Maris outlined the strategic advantages of Thailand's inclusion in this powerful bloc of emerging markets.

 

BRICS, featuring Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newly joined partners such as the UAE, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia, offers Thailand a substantial platform for addressing global geopolitical issues. Maris highlighted the potential for Thailand to gain from advancements in technology sectors like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and energy security by associating with BRICS.

 

Maris emphasised that joining this partnership positions Thailand within a large and dynamic market, fostering economic growth and international cooperation while promoting multilateralism for balanced global interests.

 

Thailand's involvement with BRICS follows an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, granted when Russia was set to chair the bloc in 2024. Presently, Brazil holds the chairmanship. This move complements Thailand's participation in various international frameworks, including the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).

 

 

Simultaneously, Thailand continues to engage in significant trade discussions with the European Union, working towards a free trade agreement under the EU-Thailand Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).

 

The legal ramifications of joining BRICS were assessed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, which concluded that Thailand's entry did not constitute treaty participation, thus bypassing the need for Parliamentary approval under the constitution's Section 178.

 

As Thailand integrates into the BRICS bloc, it aims to bolster its international standing and economic resilience, tapping into shared resources and innovation while reaffirming its role as a dynamic player on the global stage, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-11

 

 

[Purdey]

This is what happens when you cannot rely on your long-term trading partners.

[KhunLA]

Joining will be a smart move.  Certainly doesn't limit any trading or agreement to trade, outside of BRICS.

 

Not seeing any negatives, though surely many will offer up silly 'what if' scenarios 

 

 

[johng]

11 minutes ago, Purdey said:

This is what happens when you cannot rely on your long-term trading partners.

 

Thailand can and will still trade with who ever they want to or don't want to  and do still impose swinging tariffs on imports they deem fit...never mind the

"orange man bad"

[blaze master]

4 minutes ago, johng said:

 

Thailand can and will still trade with who ever they want to or don't want to  and do still impose swinging tariffs on imports they deem fit...never mind the

"orange man bad"

 

Its always orange man bad for some people. 

[KhunLA]

That didn't take long.  3rd comment, and 'HE' enters the thread ...

 

... OMT  

[Harrisfan]

Thailand is non pc and smart.

[rough diamond]

18 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Thailand is non pc and smart.

Unlike you.

[Puccini]

I have a feeling that Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, does not know what he is talking about.

 

The way I understand it, BRICS is about using currencies other than the United States dollar (USD) for international trading between member countries of BRICS if the seller and buyer agree on the currency to use, nothing more. It has to do absolutely nothing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Incidentally, the choice to use a currency other than USD has always existed, long before the advent of BRICS.

[daveAustin]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

BRICS, featuring Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newly joined partners such as the UAE, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia

What a lovely friendly group. 

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Joining will be a smart move.  Certainly doesn't limit any trading or agreement to trade, outside of BRICS.

 

Not seeing any negatives, though surely many will offer up silly 'what if' scenarios 

 

 

Thailand will do what it does best, take everything it can and offer nothing back

[blaze master]

3 hours ago, daveAustin said:

What a lovely friendly group. 

 

Nearly half the world's population in that group though. 

[IsaanT]

7 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Nearly half the world's population in that group though. 

 

... but not the half I would choose to be aligned with.

[klauskunkel]

I was trying to figure out what the common ground of all these BRIC countries was:

Their corruption index was very bad (with one notable exception: UAE)

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024

 

Country:        Score:    Rank:

 

UAE,                 68         23

 

China,              43         76

South Africa    41          82

India,                38         96

Ethiopia            37         99

Brazil,               34        107

Thailand           34        107

Egypt,              30        130

Iran,                 23        151

Russia,            22        154
 

[blaze master]

1 minute ago, IsaanT said:

 

... but not the half I would choose to be aligned with.

 

Sure. But when you add all the others who will join them

 

The numbers will get lopsided fast.

[KhunLA]

26 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand will do what it does best, take everything it can and offer nothing back

USA should pay attention to that strategy, 'thinking about your own people first', there might not be a $36T debt.

 

I was thinking about going to the bank today, taking out loan, that I can't repay, for 1M baht, and giving it away.   Thoughts ?

[ChaiyaTH]

This move is a bit like what they also did during world war 2. They always eat from all sides. It should be punished one day tho, they forget there is no longer the interest for Thailand being neutral as it was back in the day with us being in Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

[IsaanT]

54 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Sure. But when you add all the others who will join them

 

The numbers will get lopsided fast.

 

The outcome of the Ukraine invasion may well influence how many other countries wish to align with Russia.

 

Senator John McCain once called Russia 'a petrol station masquerading as a country'.  Europe is working as fast as it can to eliminate all Russian gas and oil imports so with this, and many other factors, Russia's future economic prospects don't look rosy.

[blaze master]

6 minutes ago, IsaanT said:

 

The outcome of the Ukraine invasion may well influence how many other countries wish to align with Russia.

 

Senator John McCain once called Russia 'a petrol station masquerading as a country'.  Europe is working as fast as it can to eliminate all Russian gas and oil imports so with this, and many other factors, Russia's future economic prospects don't look rosy.

 

Russia will still sell their gas regardless of the outcome. Most new consumers coming online in the coming decade are from Asia. This changes things.

 

[Patong2021]

Jan 30 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday warned off BRICS member countries from replacing the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency by repeating a 100%-tariffs threat he had made weeks after winning the November presidential elections.

"We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs," Trump said on Truth Social in a statement nearly identical to one he posted on Nov. 30.

 

Let's see how the USA reacts.  😃

[Patong2021]

11 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Russia will still sell their gas regardless of the outcome. Most new consumers coming online in the coming decade are from Asia. This changes things.

 

 

They are selling now at below market prices, they can price higher. US shale gas boom has peaked.  Canadian oil and gas might be available on world market in 3-5 years time if they get their act together. BRICS might be in the right place at the right time as the USA faces an energy crisis in 5-10 years.

[pomchop]

5 hours ago, daveAustin said:

What a lovely friendly group. 

And closer economic ties likely will mean more chinese russian indian and middle east tourists will be further encouraged to visit thailand as well as invest here ....

[Srikcir]

18 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

USA faces an energy crisis in 5-10 year

Sooner if Canada places a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the states of New York, Michigan and Minnesota.

The new fee will add as much as $400,000 Canadian dollars ($277,000) in daily costs for 1.5 million U.S. homes and businesses.

 

[IsaanT]

57 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Russia will still sell their gas regardless of the outcome. Most new consumers coming online in the coming decade are from Asia. This changes things.

 

I agree but the gas being sold to Asia is being sent in ships.  This isn't economical.  It will be many years before a pipeline is completed.

In the meantime, Russia is burning off excess gas that can't find a home.
 

[frank83628]

17 hours ago, Purdey said:

This is what happens when you cannot rely on your long-term trading partners.

This happens when the dollar is weaponised.

 

[frank83628]

1 hour ago, IsaanT said:

 

The outcome of the Ukraine invasion may well influence how many other countries wish to align with Russia.

 

Senator John McCain once called Russia 'a petrol station masquerading as a country'.  Europe is working as fast as it can to eliminate all Russian gas and oil imports so with this, and many other factors, Russia's future economic prospects don't look rosy.

And the citizens are paying the cost by 3x high heating costs, due to weak politicians under the US thumb.

[KhunLA]

11 hours ago, Puccini said:

I have a feeling that Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, does not know what he is talking about.

 

The way I understand it, BRICS is about using currencies other than the United States dollar (USD) for international trading between member countries of BRICS if the seller and buyer agree on the currency to use, nothing more. It has to do absolutely nothing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Incidentally, the choice to use a currency other than USD has always existed, long before the advent of BRICS.

 

Yep, always has been and always will continue.

Nothing different or changing in the future.

 

3 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Nearly half the world's population in that group though. 

 

Only 1/3, but yes, huge number and 2 of the largest economies.

 

1 hour ago, pomchop said:

And closer economic ties likely will mean more chinese russian indian and middle east tourists will be further encouraged to visit thailand as well as invest here ....

 

Win win for TH

[pomchop]

2 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Jan 30 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday warned off BRICS member countries from replacing the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency by repeating a 100%-tariffs threat he had made weeks after winning the November presidential elections.

"We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs," Trump said on Truth Social in a statement nearly identical to one he posted on Nov. 30.

 

Let's see how the USA reacts.  😃

Let's threaten the entire world to either do as they are told or else  and see how that works out.