As Brics lures Malaysia and Thailand while world order ‘crumbles all around’, is Asean OK?

Joining the China and Russia-led bloc could cause Asean to fracture, some say. Others argue it’s harmless hedging

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Asean leaders and officials figure out the bloc’s official handshake at a summit in Indonesia last year. Photo: AP

Published: 12:00pm, 29 Jun 2024Updated: 4:38pm, 29 Jun 2024

The prospect of Southeast Asian nations joining Brics has ignited fierce debate among analysts, with proponents arguing membership could unlock lucrative trade and geopolitical opportunities – while sceptics warn it risks dragging countries into China and Russia’s orbit and further eroding regional unity.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim set tongues wagging with the revelation earlier in June that his country was preparing to join Brics, with formal procedures to begin soon. Thailand has also reportedly submitted a formal request to join, following in the footsteps of Laos and Myanmar, which declared their interest last year.

The Brics group originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, giving it the acronym. Its ranks expanded earlier this year when Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates also became members.

Malaysia’s push to join Brics has largely been driven by Anwar’s broader rhetoric around championing the Global South and challenging perceived Western double standards, according to regional foreign policy experts.

The Malaysian prime minister has been vocal on issues that align with the overall Brics ethos, ranging from the need for multipolarity to diversified economic development, said Thomas Daniel, a senior fellow specialising in foreign policy and security studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia.

Anwar Ibrahim speaks at an Asean summit last year. Malaysia’s prime minister has called for championing “the rise of the Global South”. Photo: Bernama/dpa

“Malaysia looks at Brics not as an alternative but as another complementary multilateral mechanism”, Daniel said, noting that the country already has significant ties with major Brics members China and India. Deepening trade and investment links with other founding members like Brazil could also benefit its trade-dependent economy.