Southeast Asian nations are increasingly interested in the BRICS association, aiming to diversify their diplomatic and economic partnerships. But this potentially challenges ASEAN's unity and centrality. While Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam see benefits in terms of economic growth, trade diversification, and access to the New Development Bank, the move could also lead to marginalisation and disadvantages for ASEAN countries not included in BRICS. Given potential complications for ASEAN trade commitments, this could shift the region's geopolitics as Western nations may perceive the alignment as move towards China and Russia. - this is the brief