BRICS Summit in South Africa: Plans for Expansion and Dealing with Sanctions
The annual BRICS summit is set to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the focus on the group’s plans for expansion and how to deal with sanctions. The bloc, currently consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has attracted interest from 23 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran, Argentina, and Ethiopia, who are keen to join.
According to South Africa’s top representative to BRICS, Anil Sooklal, leaders will discuss the expansion of the group beyond its current members and this could potentially shake up the existing world order. The summit will also address issues such as Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, related sanctions, criticism of the US dollar’s role in international finance, and the global balance of power.
China, in particular, stands to benefit from the anti-American sentiment among BRICS countries and is drawing many countries from the Global South closer to its sphere of influence. The goal for China is to counter the dominance of the United States on a functional level.
Russia, on the other hand, sees the expansion of BRICS as an opportunity to overcome its international isolation. Moscow aims to bring its allies, such as Belarus and Venezuela, into the bloc. However, the expansion plans have also faced some opposition within BRICS. India, Brazil, and China are not keen on reducing their influence and taking on new challenges associated with new members.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, has suggested that the admission criteria for new members would have to be discussed first. This may result in the formation of a circle of BRICS-plus countries with limited rights and powers of determination.
Despite internal conflicts, the BRICS community has been regarded as a success story. Its combined share of global economic output has risen from 18% to 26% between 2010 and 2021, according to a report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Intra-BRICS exports and foreign direct investment into BRICS countries are also above the global average.
China plays a significant role in the group’s growth, especially in intra-BRICS trade. It is the largest trade partner for Brazil, Russia, and South Africa. Only India breaks the trend, with the United States as its top trade partner and China in second place.
However, the BRICS bloc‘s anti-Western stance has raised concerns in Europe. Some observers view it as an echo chamber for Russia and a sanctuary for states seeking protection from Western sanctions. The BRICS countries have not participated in the punitive measures imposed on Russia since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. China, Brazil, and India have become major purchasers of Russian oil, benefiting from cheap energy prices. Nevertheless, developing and middle-income countries have been significantly impacted by the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
The Johannesburg summit will focus on finding ways to mitigate the effects of sanctions on BRICS countries while avoiding taking sides or getting further involved in the conflict. The issue has the potential to bring conflicts and tensions within BRICS to the forefront.
In conclusion, the BRICS summit in South Africa will address the group’s plans for expansion and its response to international sanctions. It will also serve as a platform for developing and middle-income countries to assert their growing self-confidence and challenge the existing world order. However, the expansion plans face opposition within BRICS, and the summit will also highlight the rising heterogeneity and potential conflicts within the bloc.
