2026/01/01 by Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Juan Pablo Sims, Yun Tso-Lee · 1 voice
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Indian Economic and Social Development #Global trade and economics #Maritime Security and History
paper · pdf · doi:10.20495/seas.26011
openalex publication_date 2026/01/01 · openalex created_date 2026/07/17 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/18
The expansion of BRICS into Southeast Asia represents a significant shift in global economic and geopolitical dynamics. With Indonesia joining as a full member and Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand engaging as partner states, BRICS’ presence in the region highlights the increasing role of alternative financial and trade mechanisms. This paper examines BRICS’ influence in Southeast Asia through a realist lens, analyzing the strategic motivations behind Southeast Asian nations’ engagement with the bloc. It explores whether BRICS serves as a vehicle for China’s regional dominance, how the United States and European Union perceive this expansion, and whether BRICS fosters a truly multipolar world order or merely reinforces China’s global ambitions. The findings suggest that Southeast Asian states pursue strategic hedging, leveraging BRICS to enhance economic security while maintaining flexibility in an increasingly contested international system.