In a move to bolster its international standing, Palestine has submitted a formal application to join the BRICS group. BRICS, an alliance of five major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), is growing its membership base.
Palestinian Ambassador to Russia, Abdel Hafiz Nofal, revealed that Palestine is considering joining as a guest member initially, with the aim of achieving full membership later. Nofal indicated in an interview with Russian media that Palestine expects to start as a guest member before advancing to full membership status.
BRICS, which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has seen significant expansion in recent years, welcoming Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024, followed by Indonesia in 2025. Several other nations, including Palestine, have expressed interest in becoming members of BRICS.
China has shown support for Palestine’s application. During a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jianqun stated that BRICS is a vital platform for collaboration among emerging economies and developing countries. It also plays an important role in fostering democracy in international relations. China welcomes more countries with similar views to join the BRICS group. This statement is considered a diplomatic win for Palestine. Observers suggest that if Palestine joins BRICS, it will gain more backing from countries in the Global South.
Recently, at the United Nations General Assembly, countries like Canada, Australia, Portugal, and the UK have recognized Palestine as an independent nation. Israel has responded strongly to this action. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clearly stated in the General Assembly that they will not accept a “terrorist nation.”