Philippines Entry Into BRICS: The Opportunities and the Challenges

Several ASEAN countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS+. Indonesia was the first ASEAN country to enter the China-dominated bloc in January 2025. Thailand and Malaysia currently partner countries in the BRICS grouping have applied for full membership of the organisation. For long, most ASEAN countries have managed to keep robust economic ties with both the US and China. The growing interest in BRICS of ASEAN nations is being attributed to the desire of these nations to maintain a balanced foreign policy driven by their interests. The unpredictability of US President Donald Trump and the possible downward spiral of US-China ties has resulted in growing insecurity in the region – which has propelled them to examine economic alternatives. During Trump’s previous tenure, the US trade wars with China, arising out of the imposition of tariffs by Trump had sent the wrong signals to the ASEAN region. Several ASEAN nations have also repeatedly highlighted the fact that they do not want to get embroiled in the US-China rivalry.

Philippines’ interest in BRICS?

A senior politician in the Philippines during a Senate speech argued forcefully in favour of the ASEAN nation applying for membership of BRICS. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, the Senate minority leader and a former chair of the foreign relations committee, during a Senate speech made some important points. The Filipino politician described BRICS as a ‘viable alternative’ to the Western-dominated world global order. Said Pimentel: “The march to a multipolar world is inevitable as such is consistent with human nature. We should support the idea of a multipolar world.” He also made a point that the ASEAN nation should host “talks” and not “bases” and should emerge as a “neutral venue” for talks, especially those countries embroiled in disputes.

Timing of the Senator’s speech

The proposal for the Philippines to join BRICS comes at a time when tensions between the ASEAN nation and Beijing have risen after Chinese vessels patrolled the disputed Scarborough Shoal – which Manila claims is part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). One of the ships CCG 5901, is the world’s largest coastguard vessel and often referred to as a “monster ship”. The National Maritime Council of the Philippines strongly protested against  patrols by Chinese ships and China had responded strongly to these protests. In recent years, tensions have risen after increasing disputes between both countries in the South China Sea.

Under former Filippino President Duterte, the ASEAN nation had strengthened ties with China while relations with the US deteriorated. Under the incumbent, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. it has given clear priority to ties with the US while also emerging as one of the front-line states in the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy. Marcos did offer to remove a US missile system launched by Washington DC in April 2024, subject to the fact that China gave up its “aggressive and coercive behavior” in the South China Sea.

A section of Filipinos are opposed to the Philippines’ entry into BRICS because it is China-dominated. On the other, there are also those in the ASEAN who believe that entry into BRICS could open-up new economic vistas for the Philippines, beyond US and Japan. Several countries which have strong ties with the US are also part of BRICS. While India was one of the founding members of BRICS, the UAE also entered the organisation last year as a full member. Several other countries which have reasonable ties with the US have applied for membership of the organisation. Philippines while benefiting from entry into BRICS could seek to especially strengthen economic linkages with these countries under the umbrella of BRICS.

The entry of the Philippines would be welcomed by countries, especially India, which do not want BRICS to become China-dominated. Though India supports economic cooperation under the ambit of BRICS, it has been wary of the idea of a BRICS Currency. After its entry into BRICS, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono while commenting on the importance of the same said that it was “an embodiment of Indonesia’s independent and active foreign policy.”

In conclusion, given the current tensions between the Philippines and China, there may not be much appetite for the Philippines joining BRICS. In the longer run, given the interest in several ASEAN nations to explore alternative economic options in an increasingly complex global economic landscape the entry of the ASEAN nation into BRICS cannot be ruled out.

[Photo by kremlin.ru, via Wikimedia Commons]

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.