Cuba has formally applied to join the BRICS group as a “partner country,” according to recent statements from Cuban and Russian officials. The request was made through an official letter addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who currently holds the BRICS presidency.

Carlos M. Pereira, director of bilateral relations at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, announced the application on social media platform X. Russian Ambassador to Cuba, Viktor Koronelli, confirmed this information to the Russian state agency TASS.

BRICS, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is an influential group of emerging economies often seen as a counterbalance to Western-led international organizations. The group recently expanded for the first time since 2010, welcoming Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as new members at the beginning of 2024.

Cuba’s pursuit of “partner country” status comes after its unsuccessful bid for full membership in 2023. This alternative engagement model has been promoted by BRICS diplomats as a way to involve more countries from the Global South in the organization’s activities.

This move by Cuba reflects its ongoing efforts to strengthen international alliances, particularly with nations that challenge the Western-dominated global order. The island nation’s geopolitical stance was evident earlier this year when it allowed Russian naval vessels to dock in its ports, a gesture interpreted by some as a strategic message to the United States.

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