Greetings with smiles, hugs, and friendly waves! If there was a prevailing theme on day two of the Brics summit, it was all about forging connections and strengthening bonds, both old and new.
The day kicked off with a red-carpet entrance and a heartwarming group photo session for the leaders, setting a welcoming tone before they delved into their closed-door discussions focused on a key agenda: the expansion of the bloc.
While the Brics member nations stand united in their support for enlarging the group’s membership, there remain differing viewpoints on the number of countries that should be allowed in and the pace of this expansion.
Against the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin views Brics membership as an avenue to demonstrate his continued alliances beyond the Western sphere. Despite his absence in South Africa due to an international arrest warrant linked to alleged war crimes in Ukraine, Putin delivered a forceful video message targeting Western powers.
“It’s important to note that the desire of certain countries to uphold their dominance in global affairs, and their pursuit of this dominance, contributed to the serious crisis in Ukraine,” Putin remarked.
Chinese President Xi Jinping shares similar sentiments, advocating for an expedited expansion of the Brics collective. He emphasized, “We should welcome more nations into the Brics community, pooling our collective wisdom to promote a fair and rational global governance.”
However, the principle of “the more, the merrier” might not be universally embraced by the remaining three member states.
India, currently embroiled in a territorial dispute with China, is cautious about admitting new members that might consistently side with China’s stance. Simultaneously, India aims to maintain positive relations with the United States and Australia, necessitating careful alignment choices.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva envisions a harmonious rapport with all stakeholders. He believes that Brics should be primarily driven by economic cooperation rather than positioned as a geopolitical counterbalance against Western powers. His public addresses emphasized the concept of a shared currency to facilitate trade among Brics nations.
Lastly, but far from least, there’s South Africa – the freshest addition to this circle of friends. South Africa is keen on maintaining stability and striking a balance, aiming to preserve favorable relations with both Western powers and Russia.
With over 20 nations expressing formal interest in joining the bloc, the selection process is rigorous and guided by specific criteria that aspiring members must meet to be part of this camaraderie.
As the summit progresses, we await with anticipation to see which nations will meet the criteria and secure their place in this esteemed assembly of friends.
