Vietnam’s strategic hesitation on Brics highlights delicate US ties and economic considerations

Vietnam’s conspicuous absence from the updated Brics partner list signals a cautious balancing act, analysts say, as Hanoi weighs its growing economic ties with Washington against the benefits of joining a bloc often seen as counter to US-led global influence.

Russia’s foreign ministry said in a written statement released on Friday that nine countries would officially join Brics as partner states on January 1, in accordance with an agreement reached during the Brics Summit held in Kazan, Russia in October.

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand were among the confirmed partner states announced in the statement.

At the summit in Kazan, 13 countries were invited to become bloc partners, meaning they are on the path to full membership. Nine accepted the invitation, while Algeria, Nigeria, Turkey and Vietnam did not formally respond by the end of 2024.

Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Hawaii, said Vietnam’s hesitation stemmed from Hanoi’s “delicate ties” with the United States.