Kazakhstan does not intend to join BRICS as a full member, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated in an interview with Al Jazeera, emphasizing that the country prefers to remain an observer for practical reasons.
“I take a realistic approach. BRICS has no charter, no permanent institutions, and no clearly defined strategy,” Tokayev explained. “We’ve already been granted observer status, and in my view, that’s sufficient.”
When asked whether full membership might bring Kazakhstan too close to China and Russia, Tokayev gave a measured response, stressing that the issue was not about geopolitical alliances, but rather the actual effectiveness of the organization. He referred to this as “post-effectiveness.”
“We will continue to monitor how things develop. Time will tell what comes next,” he concluded.
BRICS is an international group of emerging economies. This year, its original members - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - were joined by Iran, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, expanding the bloc to ten nations. The organization remains informal, without a founding charter, secretariat, or formal decision-making structure.
At the BRICS summit in Kazan in the fall of 2024, a new category - “BRICS partners” - was introduced. Kazakhstan was among the first countries to be granted this status. Partner nations may attend selected meetings and events but do not hold voting rights.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 3, 2025