Russia and China are set to enhance their political and economic influence in the developing world during a summit in South Africa this week.
The expected joint expression of discontent toward Western policies will likely be accentuated by a formal move to forge a closer relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Leaders from the BRICS economic alliance, comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, will convene for a three-day gathering in Johannesburg’s financial district, Sandton.
The attendance of Chinese Premier Xi Jinping underscores China’s substantial investment in the bloc as a platform for its global ambitions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate via video link due to an International Criminal Court warrant related to the Ukrainian conflict. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will also be present alongside Xi.
The central summit on Wednesday, accompanied by meetings on Tuesday and Thursday, is anticipated to generate calls for increased collaboration among Global South nations.
These calls arise from mounting discontent with perceived Western dominance of international institutions—a sentiment that both Russia and China are keen to align with.
A significant number of representatives from various developing nations will join sideline meetings, offering a substantial audience for Xi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is representing Putin.
A critical policy point with direct implications on the expansion of the BRICS group is anticipated to be discussed and possibly decided upon.
Formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with the subsequent addition of South Africa, the proposed expansion of BRICS involves countries such as Saudi Arabia, which has formally applied to join.
The inclusion of Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, within an economic alliance alongside Russia and China could provoke attention and tensions, given the current geopolitical climate. The move aligns with China’s efforts to exert influence in the Persian Gulf.
Talmiz Ahmad, India’s former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, emphasized the significance of Saudi Arabia’s potential entry into BRICS, stating that it would bring exceptional importance to the group.
The expansion of BRICS, even if symbolic, aligns with the Russian and Chinese vision of forming a coalition to counterbalance Western dominance, particularly in light of China’s economic tensions with the U.S. and Russia’s confrontational stance in the aftermath of the Ukrainian conflict.
The expansion, however, requires consensus among the five existing BRICS members regarding criteria for new entrants.
The expansion is seen as a moral victory for Russia and China in their pursuit of an alternative to the G-7.
While Brazil, India, and South Africa may have reservations about expansion, the momentum is growing. The U.S. and the European Union are closely monitoring the situation, aiming to maintain their influence and counterbalance any potential dominance from Russia and China.
The summit also serves as a platform to address grievances with current global financial systems, particularly the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international trade.
Despite challenges and tensions within BRICS, experts see potential for increased trade in local currencies, which would align with the bloc’s broader goals of offering an alternative to Western-centric systems.
