Tokayev Cites Pragmatism in Kazakhstan’s Refusal to Join BRICS

Kazakhstan has opted not to join the BRICS group out of pragmatic considerations, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in an interview with Qatar’s Al Jazeera television channel.

The Kazakh leader emphasized his pragmatic approach, explaining that BRICS lacks permanent structures: “There is no charter, no secretariat, no programs, and so on,” he said.

“We hold observer status in BRICS, and I believe that is more than sufficient,” Tokayev noted.

When asked whether his concerns stem from doubts about the group’s effectiveness or from fears that Kazakhstan might appear “too close” to Russia and China, Tokayev replied that his view is primarily about the organization’s “post-effectiveness.” He added, “We will remain observers in BRICS, and time will tell what happens next.”

BRICS is a bloc of ten countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The organization was founded in June 2006 and has no charter or secretary-general. The presidency of the group rotates annually; last year, it was held by Russia.

Kazakhstan currently holds the status of a BRICS partner state. This category was introduced at the summit in Kazan in October 2024. Partner countries are invited to attend specific sessions during BRICS summits and meetings of foreign ministers, as well as other events organized by the bloc.