The West’s gamble to split the world into two geopolitical camps has pushed the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) grouping beyond a “fuzzy” discussion group and into the strategic role of building a new world economic arrangement, free of the financial constraints of the EU and of Washington. Such is the conclusion of a provocative and refreshing analysis in RT, on “The Possibility of Saudi Arabia Joining the BRICS Shows the World Is Moving On from Western Dominance,” by the chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy Fyodor Lukyanov. He also serves as the Research Director for the famous Valdai Club and is the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs.
Lykyanov first cites the Oct. 16 report by South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, during his two-day visit, of Saudi Arabia’s intention to join the BRICS, as told to him by his host, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Since Argentina and Iran are already applying, the “excitement around BRICS is a sign of the changes taking place in the world.” Lukyanov maintains that before the attempted isolation of Russia, the BRICS was an interesting forum, but never enough to replace the G7, as “ideas to turn the group into a formalized counterbalance to the G7 did not resonate, because links to the West were crucial for all members.”
He continued, aside from being far apart and very different from each other, the countries were too dependent upon their individual relationship with the U.S. Yet they always had a principled commitment to sovereignty. It is increasingly clear that the West is not allowing that, by their “join us against Russia or else” mode. Hence:
“The events of 2022, initiated by Moscow, have clearly divided the world into a Western part that rallies against Russia, while others take a wait-and-see approach. The West used the entire arsenal of pressure at its disposal to punish Moscow and demonstrate how disobedience is punished.
“The result was quite unexpected. All the other countries, especially the big BRICS states or those claiming a role in the world of their own, not only distanced themselves from joining the Western campaign but outright rejected it, despite the fact that such a stance carries the risk of repercussions from the U.S. and its allies.
