Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe believes Sri Lanka BRICS membership would benefit the country, following his recent statements during an official visit to Russia. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club Forum in St. Petersburg, Wickremesinghe made a case for the nation’s entry into the economic bloc and also highlighted the group’s growing global influence. His comments come at a time when BRICS expansion in 2025 continues to reshape international economic relationships, with the alliance now including 11 member countries and representing a significant shift away from traditional Western-dominated structures.
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During his strategic appearance at the prestigious forum, Wickremesinghe addressed Russia’s global position and also leveraged multiple essential insights about the BRICS alliance’s impact, right now.
Wickremesinghe stated:
“I don’t think Russia is isolated. It deals with many countries in the world, including our part of the world. Russia’s connections keep growing. BRICS became a large group. A group which is larger than any other economic grouping.”
His assessment challenges Western narratives about Russia’s global standing, particularly as Russia and Sri Lanka relations have accelerated development despite international sanctions and also various major pressures. The timing of these remarks coincides with ongoing BRICS expansion trends in 2025 that have fundamentally transformed the bloc from its original five founding members to an 11-nation alliance spanning multiple strategic continents.
Economic Bloc Fills International Gap
The former president also engineered discussions about the collapse of traditional non-aligned structures and how BRICS could strategically address this vacuum across several key international areas.
Wickremesinghe had this to say:
“Non-Aligned Movement has collapsed. I think BRICS will close that gap.”
This perspective demonstrates how emerging economies are increasingly catalyzed toward alternative multilateral frameworks that have pioneered greater representation and also economic autonomy across various major sectors. For Sri Lanka, joining BRICS could maximize access to alternative financing mechanisms and also trade partnerships that would revolutionize the country’s dependence on Western financial institutions, at the time of writing.
The expanded BRICS membership now encompasses Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Countries like Argentina and Indonesia have also received invitations to join, demonstrating the bloc’s accelerated growth trajectory and also appeal to developing nations across multiple essential regions.
Representing Developing World Interests
The former president spearheaded emphasis on the political and economic importance of the alliance for countries like Sri Lanka across several key strategic areas.
Wickremesinghe stated:
“It consists of countries in our part of the world. I thought we should apply for its membership during my regime. Already, there are newer members in BRICS, such as Iran and Indonesia. Some others have also applied. It is an important group both politically and economically. It can represent countries such as Sri Lanka, which is not a part of the developed Western group of nations.”
This positioning particularly leverages appeal to countries seeking alternatives to dollar-dominated trade systems across various major economic sectors. BRICS nations have actively engineered mechanisms for bilateral trade in local currencies, which are being strategically implemented across numerous significant economic sectors. For Sri Lanka’s BRICS considerations, such arrangements could optimize crucial financial flexibility given the country’s current debt obligations and also foreign exchange constraints.
The economic bloc has also pioneered the creation of alternatives to Western-controlled financial infrastructure, including payment systems that would revolutionize member countries’ ability to conduct international transactions without relying on traditional banking networks across multiple essential areas.
Strategic Implications for International Relations
Wickremesinghe’s advocacy for BRICS membership has catalyzed a potential recalibration of Sri Lanka’s international relationships and also diplomatic priorities across several key strategic areas. His comments about applying for membership during his previous tenure suggest this consideration has accelerated at the highest levels of government, and also indicates continuity in policy thinking across different administrations.
The timing of these remarks, delivered while visiting Russia, underscores the practical dimensions of such diplomatic alignment across various major policy areas. As BRICS expansion continues its trajectory in 2025, early application could strategically position Sri Lanka advantageously within a bloc that increasingly challenges Western economic dominance and also offers alternative development models.
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However, such moves require careful navigation of existing relationships with traditional partners and also donors across numerous significant areas. Sri Lanka’s ongoing negotiations with international creditors, including the International Monetary Fund, would need to be balanced with any new commitments to BRICS initiatives and also cooperative frameworks. This balancing act reflects the complex geopolitical realities that small nations face when choosing between competing economic blocs and also highlights the diplomatic challenges in managing multiple international relationships simultaneously across several key sectors.
