Myanmar junta’s ‘delusional’ Brics bid: seeking acceptance at any cost

The military regime hopes to secure vital funding through Brics, but experts say its credibility hangs by a thread

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Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing (right) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Naypyitaw last month. Photo: EPA-EFE/Myanmar military information team

Published: 9:00am, 29 Sep 2024

Myanmar’s military junta is making a bid for international legitimacy by seeking to join Brics, observers say. The bloc led by China and Russia may even consider admitting the conflict-ridden “pariah” nation – though they would do so with significant reservations.

Maung Maung Ohn, the junta’s information minister, articulated Myanmar’s desire to join Brics as an observer during a recent visit to Moscow, according to Russian state news agency Tass.

Founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, Brics aims to strengthen the influence of emerging economies against the Western-led world order. The bloc has since expanded to include 10 members, with the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are among the Southeast Asian nations who have expressed an interest in joining. Even reclusive North Korea indicated a desire to be part of the group earlier this month.

Seeking Brics membership represents the junta’s latest effort to solidify its standing as Myanmar’s legitimate government, according to Adam Simpson, a senior lecturer of international studies at the University of South Australia.

He said joining Brics would grant the junta access to funding from the New Development Bank, which could help stabilise its struggling economy.