Palestine has officially applied for full membership in BRICS, the expanding economic and political bloc of emerging economies, according to its envoy to Russia. Ambassador Abdel-Hafiz Nofal confirmed on Friday that a formal request has been submitted, though no response has yet been received.
“But as you know, Palestine has certain conditions. I believe that until these conditions allow us to become a full member, Palestine will participate in the union as a guest. So far, we haven’t received any answer,” Nofal told Russia’s RIA news agency.
BRICS, originally formed in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, later welcomed South Africa in 2011. The bloc has since grown significantly, with Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, and Iran joining in 2024, followed by Indonesia in early 2025. Beyond its members, the grouping also works closely with a wide range of partner nations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
China has already reacted positively to Palestine’s application. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing:
“We welcome more like-minded partners to join BRICS cooperation and jointly work for a more just and equitable international order.”
He described the platform as a “source of strong impetus for multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations.”
The announcement comes just days after several Western nations, including Canada, Australia, Portugal, and the UK, formally recognized Palestine as a state at the United Nations General Assembly. The decision has fueled further geopolitical debate. Israel condemned the move, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that Tel Aviv would not accept what he called a “terrorist nation” imposed on it.
Palestine’s bid for BRICS membership underscores its growing search for international recognition and its alignment with Global South platforms seeking to challenge Western dominance in global affairs.
