New Delhi: The growing interest of Southeast Asian countries in BRICS reflects a broader push for strategic autonomy and diversification of economic and diplomatic partnerships amid shifts in the global order, according to a report.
According to the report by India Narrative, the recently concluded 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, under India’s chairship, brought renewed attention to the grouping’s growing relevance among ASEAN countries.
The summit was held under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with a focus on strengthening cooperation across political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people pillars.
The report said ASEAN’s interest in BRICS merits attention as the Southeast Asian grouping has traditionally positioned itself as a regional platform for small and middle powers, emphasising consultation and cooperation rather than coercion. It noted that BRICS is increasingly being viewed in Southeast Asia as a platform through which countries can diversify their economic and diplomatic engagements without subscribing to a ‘West vs. the rest’ binary.
Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who attended the New Delhi summit as ASEAN Chair and an Outreach Country, said ASEAN nations would engage with BRICS on advancing peace, inclusive growth, sustainable development and a rules-based international order, according to the report.
The report noted that the Philippines’ interest in expanding its diplomatic and strategic options comes amid its sovereignty dispute with China in the South China Sea. It said BRICS could provide Manila with an additional platform to broaden its engagement while avoiding direct confrontation with Beijing.
On the sidelines of the summit, India and the Philippines also held discussions on expanding their strategic partnership across defence, trade, space and infrastructure. The Philippines had purchased the shore-based version of India’s BrahMos anti-ship cruise missile in 2022, with deliveries of launch systems beginning in April 2024.
The report also highlighted Vietnam’s growing engagement with BRICS. According to the Vietnamese ambassador to India, through engagement, Vietnam aims to contribute to the overall success of BRICS, helping strengthen the voice of developing countries, while it will provide Vietnam with additional space to diversify markets and partners.
Vietnam became a BRICS partner country in 2025, while Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attended the New Delhi summit at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation. The report said Hanoi sees BRICS as another platform beyond ASEAN through which it can expand partnerships while maintaining ties with China, the United States, Japan and Europe.
India and Vietnam also agreed to strengthen defence and maritime cooperation on the sidelines of the summit.
Malaysia, another BRICS partner state, is also looking at the grouping as an avenue to expand economic and diplomatic engagement with major emerging markets amid global economic uncertainty and regional conflicts. The report noted that India is Malaysia’s largest trading partner in Asia and said “Indian companies had 293 approved manufacturing projects in Malaysia worth US$2.95 billion as of June 2026, which is expected to create 28,455 jobs.”
Indonesia, the sole ASEAN member of BRICS, meanwhile, views the grouping as a platform to strengthen the voice of the Global South and promote more resilient global trade and supply chains.
The report said the growing ASEAN interest in BRICS could create opportunities for India to deepen economic and strategic engagement with Southeast Asian economies. It also argued that India’s presence could help ensure that BRICS remains a platform for broader Global South cooperation rather than becoming dominated by any single power.
According to the report, India and ASEAN countries share an approach centered on strategic autonomy, diversification and consultation.
“BRICS offers both India and Southeast Asia a platform to exercise their economic as well as strategic interests without conforming to a ‘West v/s rest’ binary, which thus attracts the ASEAN countries towards this non-Western association,” the report stated.
(IANS)
