Nigeria has been admitted to the BRICS group of emerging economies as a "partner country", Brazil, the group's chairman, announced.
Nigeria is the ninth BRICS partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
"With the world's sixth largest population and the largest in Africa, as well as one of the largest economies on the continent, Nigeria shares similar interests with other BRICS members," the Brazilian government said in a statement.
BRICS was formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009 as a counterbalance to the Group of Seven leading industrialized countries, with South Africa added in 2010.
Last year, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates were admitted.
Saudi Arabia has been invited to join. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have officially applied for membership, and several others have expressed interest.
Newly elected President of the United States (US) Donald Trump last year threatened a 100 percent tariff against BRICS if it undermined the US dollar, as the bloc's leaders are in favor of introducing an alternative payment system that would not depend on the dollar.
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