“Brics” is the name for the association of developing countries and is made up of the first letters: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Who else was present at the meeting of the “Brics” countries?

At the summit meeting on 22-24 August 2023 in Johannesburg (South Africa), one of the topics was the expansion to “Brics plus”. “The search for an alternative” to the global balance of power is currently on the agenda, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said ahead of the meeting.

More than 30 countries have signed up, as well as 67 high-level politicians from Africa. French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron has not been invited, although he has expressed interest. The former colonial rulers and industrial nations of the West were not wanted.

According to Foreign Minister Pandor, some 40 countries have expressed non-binding interest in membership, 23 of which are real, including Argentina, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Venezuela and Thailand.

Which “Brics” states pursue what interests?

Belarus, for example, was invited for the first time. Russia should have great interest in this country’s inclusion because of its war of aggression against Ukraine. After all, thousands of Russian troops were stationed there.

May be Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin trying, as it expands, to persuade partners to do business in national currencies and not in US dollars.

Also China interested in an extension. According to experts, the People’s Republic of China wants to use “Brics plus” as a platform against the United States and place itself at the center of the world order.

India on the other hand, takes a somewhat critical view of “Brics plus”. The country is worried about losing influence in the group with the possible entry of some pro-China countries. Most importantly, this continent wants to grow economically. In addition, India could challenge Pakistan’s recognition. The seventh largest country in the world has been at war with its neighbors for several times.

south Africa take a more diplomatic approach. According to Foreign Minister Pandor, what was at stake was increased “South-South cooperation”, as Western industrial powers increasingly ignored the concerns of Southern countries. South Africa hopes for better economic cooperation and at the same time less dependence on the global economy which uses the US dollar as its reserve currency. Therefore, South Africa has invited dozens of African heads of state to the summit.

According to media reports, supported Brazil the inclusion of countries such as Argentina, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. If President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wants, the expansion should be a counterweight to the G7, a “club” that cannot exist because its way of talking about geopolitics is out of date, Lula said. In addition, Lula has repeatedly criticized international structures such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Brazil’s neighbor Argentina owes about $44 billion to the IMF.

Coincidentally, in 2014 five developing countries set up a joint bank: the “New Development Bank” based in Shanghai.

According to their own statements, the five “Brics” countries already cover 42 percent of the world’s population, 30 percent of the global land area, and 24 percent of global economic output.

Putin participated via video

Because of that The International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant against him as a war criminal imposed, Putin did not attend the meeting personally and was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. However, he wants to connect via video.

(sp,dpa)