2023-08-23 18:32:03
The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) meeting at a summit in Johannesburg agreed on Wednesday on the principle of an expansion of the bloc of emerging countries, wishing to extend their influence, the strategic choice of new members yet to be discussed.
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“We have agreed on the issue of expansion. We have adopted a document which defines the guidelines, principles and review processes for countries wishing to become members of the BRICS,” South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told state radio.
The minister, who underlined a “positive” progress, did not specify whether the names of the new entrants will be announced during the summit, simply indicating that the “details” will be specified before the end of the meeting on Thursday evening.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said earlier that all members of the bloc “fully” support the idea of enlargement.
About forty countries have applied for membership or expressed an interest. Cuba, Nigeria and Iran are among the candidates.
According to the leaders of the “club of five”, which produces a quarter of the world’s wealth and brings together 42% of the world’s population, this enthusiasm shows the growing influence of emerging countries on the world stage.
China, a heavyweight that weighs around 70% of the group’s GDP, has clearly reiterated its intention to gain power. “The Brics must work in favor of multilateralism and not create small blocs. We must integrate more countries into the Brics family,” urged President Xi Jinping.
A heterogeneous alliance of geographically distant countries with unevenly growing economies, the Brics have in common their demand for a more inclusive global balance, particularly with regard to the influence of the United States and the European Union.
Reserves
India, another economic engine of the group which is wary of the ambitions of its Chinese regional rival and had not expressed itself on a possible expansion at the opening of the summit on Tuesday, finally declared to support the opening, subject to agreement on terms.
“India fully supports the broadening of the BRICS membership and looks forward to moving towards consensus,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
The decision-making process within the BRICS indeed requires unanimity. Mr Ramaphosa said he “hoped to find a clear solution” on the issues surrounding the expansion.
In addition to India, Brazil, officially favorable to the opening, fears that an expansion might “dilute” its influence worldwide and within the bloc, according to the specialist.
Pretoria pleads for the integration of African countries, on a continent that has become a new chessboard in the world diplomatic game.
Russia “desperately needs friends and partners” with the war in Ukraine and “no wonder they are in favor of expansion,” de Carvalho continues.
Rio, Pretoria and Delhi will also have to weigh their proximity to China and Russia once morest the risk of moving away from a major trading partner like the United States.
The Brics reaffirmed their “non-aligned” position at the summit, at a time when divisions have been accentuated by the conflict in Ukraine.
“We all defend a multipolar world order,” said Vladimir Putin. Under an international arrest warrant for war crimes in Ukraine, the Russian president spoke at the summit by videoconference.
The United States said on Tuesday that it did not see the Brics as future “geopolitical rivals”, ensuring that it wanted to maintain “solid relations” with Brazil, India and South Africa.
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