Spotlight - Malaysia: October 24, 2024

Rafizi Ramli, Malaysia’s minister of economy and deputy president of the country’s leading party Keadilan (PKR), is attending the BRICS Outreach/BRICS Plus summit following the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia from October 22 to 24. In June, Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim made clear his intention to join BRICS to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a courtesy call. Anwar is planning to visit Brazil, one of the leading members of the alliance, in November. In addition to Brazil, the grouping’s founding members include Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In January 2024, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Iran became full members. Malaysia submitted its formal application to join the grouping in July. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov visited Malaysia that month, and Prime Minister Anwar visited Russia for the first time in September for the Eastern Economic Forum (EFF).

BRICS, which held its first summit in 2009, was established as a platform for emerging economies. Anwar’s ambition to join the grouping is mainly an economic one, in the hopes that this new alliance will promote economic growth and offer Malaysia a stronger platform in international affairs. Anwar is walking in the footsteps of his predecessors toward the establishment of a middle power diplomacy amid Malaysia’s constant search for greater autonomy. Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad built relationships with leaders from the Global South by taking an active role in South-South dialogue, developing close partnerships with South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and his successors, as well as leaders from non-BRICS members that have actively pursued a non-aligned foreign policy or have a history of being marginalized by Western powers. 

Anwar has been criticized by segments of the Malaysian media for toning down his criticism of Russia’s role in the invasion of Ukraine. The prime minister continues his funambulist diplomacy, walking a tightrope between political stances rooted in a domestic agenda and Malaysia’s foreign policy and global economic ambitions. Anwar, who recently met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in Laos, has faced similar criticism over the taming of his position against the U.S. role in supporting Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. 

Sophie Lemière is an adjunct fellow (non-resident) with the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.