2023-08-21 22:25:50
South Africa is hosting the Brics summit from August 22 to 24 at its conference center in Johannesburg. A somewhat special summit, the first face-to-face since the Covid pandemic and the start of the war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also follow the summit from a distance, unable to travel due to the ICC arrest warrant. And among the main issues on the table is the question of the expansion of the Brics. Since the addition of South Africa in 2010, no new country has yet joined the original group. This point has been under discussion in recent months, particularly at ministerial level, and from now on, the Heads of State will be able to discuss this crucial choice in person.
While countries like China or Russia have made known their desire to expand, so that the bloc carries more weight and can impose its desires for multilateralism, other members like India or Brazil, and its president Lula , are currently more cautious: We are going to discuss the entry of new countries, and I am of the opinion that everyone can enter, provided they respect the rules that we are establishing: in this case, we will accept their application. »
Because it is precisely these entry criteria that are difficult to establish between the five countries. A document has been prepared by the diplomatic chiefs, but it must now be accepted by the five heads of state members of the BRICS.
According to South Africa, 23 countries have formally approached the bloc for a possible candidacy. An interest due to geopolitical changes, according to Priyal Singh, researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS): “ Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there are strong global geopolitical tensions, and this makes the countries of the South very anxious. I think a lot of countries are looking for more predictability, and they can only find it by pooling their weight and influence in the world. »
The list published by Pretoria includes several countries on the continent, namely Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Morocco, of which diplomats have however denied having made such a request. For the continent, getting closer to the Brics is also a way to strengthen relations with China, which dominates the group, according to Priyal Singh: “ China is the number one trading partner for many African countries. I think many of them have their sights set on Beijing, especially as China continues to grow, and so they want to get closer to its political and economic orbit. »
The issue of dedollarization
Another issue might also influence the choice of new members: the desire to accelerate dedollarization, while the Brics want to reduce their dependence on the greenback. Daniel Bradlow, professor at the University of Pretoria: Countries of the Brics already use for example the yuan in their exchanges, and one can thus imagine them admitting other powers, and using these currencies. From a trading point of view, there is potential to develop this. »
Other nations, notably from the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, or countries under sanctions such as Iran, are also seeking to penetrate within this informal circle of the Brics.
Also to listenAfrica economy – What place for South Africa within the BRICS?
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