At last weeks get-together in Kazan Russia showed its not as cut-off as some might think. Despite two-and-a-half years of push-back from the West Vladimir Putin welcomed leaders from 36 countries (which sure made Western nations un-happy)
The summit showed Putin in his element: meeting with Xi Jinping talking Middle-east stuff with Masoud Pezeshkian and even getting face-time with António Guterres. Since its start-up about 15 years ago BRICS has grown big-time adding Egypt Ethiopia Iran and UAE just this year; now it speaks for almost half of earths people
- Brazil
- Russia
- India
- China
- South Africa
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Iran
- UAE
Some Western know-it-alls think BRICS wants to mess up the world order but thats not whats happening. The group just wants to fix power balance - not break everything. The Kazan meet-up showed three cool things: Xi told Putin to chill about Ukraine; India and China talked about their border stuff; and everyone agreed to work with current world rules
The groups big statement (called Kazan Declaration) shows its not trying to break the system: they want UN WTO and other groups to keep working. But theres a catch - some members dont practice what they preach like Russia in Ukraine or China in South China Sea
We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the promotion and protection of democracy human rights and fundamental freedoms for all
Looking at history new world-orders only come after big wars (like WW1 and WW2). BRICS cant make a new system happen - it just wants to fix the current one. Sure some stuff might not make the West happy but hey - even the US breaks rules sometimes