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Six more nations are set to join the BRICS by January 2024. They are Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. All six had applied for membership. The BRICS expansion to 11 member states is an endorsement to countries’ urge for alternate mechanisms for their security and economic cooperation. It will increase its envisaged role as a geopolitical alternative to global institutions dominated by the West, and using theme for their vested motives.
The five founding member countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – have argued that their size, in economic and population terms, was not represented in the world’s institutions, particularly the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They represent about 42 percent of the world’s population and more than 23% of world GDP.
The enlarged grouping will account for 46.5 percent of the world population. Using the IMF’s 2022 GDP data, we can deduce that it will account for about 30 percent of the global GDP. The disparate nature of the six new members has sparked debate about the real nature of Brics, as the host of the BRICS Johannesburg Summit 2023 the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa stated in his welcome address of the summit.
The BRICS Johannesburg summit 2023 was a landmark event that marked the expansion aimed to enhance the cooperation and coordination among the BRICS countries on various issues of common interest, such as trade, investment, infrastructure, health, education, science and technology, climate change, peace and security. The summit contributed to developing an alternative economic and security bloc in several ways. Some of the main outcomes of the summit were:
– The establishment of a BRICS Development Bank (BDB), which would provide financing for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the BRICS countries and other developing countries. The BDB would complement the existing New Development Bank (NDB), which was launched by the BRICS in 2015.
– The launch of a BRICS Vaccine Centre (BVC), which would coordinate the research, development, production and distribution of vaccines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The BVC would also support the global efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all countries.
– The signing of a BRICS Free Trade Agreement (BFTA), which would create a single market of more than 3 billion people and boost the trade and investment flows among the BRICS countries. The BFTA would also facilitate the integration of the BRICS countries into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which was signed by 15 Asia-Pacific countries in 2020.
– The adoption of a BRICS Security Strategy (BSS), which would outline the common vision and principles for enhancing the security cooperation among the BRICS countries. The BSS would also identify the priority areas and mechanisms for addressing the regional and global challenges, such as terrorism, cybercrime, nuclear proliferation, climate change and human rights.
These outcomes demonstrated the commitment and ambition of the BRICS countries to play a more active and constructive role in shaping the global governance and order. They also reflected the diversity and dynamism of the BRICS countries, which have different political systems, economic models, cultural backgrounds and strategic interests. By expanding their membership and deepening their cooperation, the BRICS countries hoped to create a more balanced, inclusive and multipolar world.
The question is, how can BRICS defend its members against US and NATO interference? The move to add six more countries in the BRICS bloc has increased the diversity, influence and potential of the bloc, which now represents more than half of the world’s population and over a third of the global GDP. However, it has also raised the challenges and risks that the BRICS countries face from the US and its allies, who may perceive the bloc as a threat to their interests and dominance.
The US and NATO have a history of interfering in the affairs of other countries, especially in regions where they have strategic or economic interests. They have often used sanctions, military interventions, covert operations, propaganda and regime change tactics to undermine the sovereignty and stability of their rivals or adversaries. Some examples of such interference are:
The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, which was based on false claims of weapons of mass destruction and resulted in hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths, millions of refugees and a prolonged sectarian conflict
1. The NATO-led intervention in Libya in 2011, which was justified by the responsibility to protect civilians from the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, but ended up destroying the country’s infrastructure, institutions and social fabric, creating a power vacuum that was exploited by militias, terrorists and human traffickers
2. The US-backed coup in Ukraine in 2014, which ousted the democratically elected president Viktor Yanukovych and triggered a civil war in the eastern regions, where pro-Russian separatists resisted the new authorities. The US and NATO also supported the expansion of NATO to the borders of Russia, provoking a military confrontation over Crimea and sanctions on both sides
3. The US-led sanctions on Iran since 1979, which have intensified under the Trump administration and aimed to cripple the country’s economy and isolate it from the international community. The US also withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal that was signed by Iran and six world powers, including China and Russia, and imposed a “maximum pressure” campaign that threatened war and regime change.
The US-led sanctions on Saudi Arabia and the UAE since 2018, which were imposed in response to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The US also reduced its support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which has been fighting against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2015. The US accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of human rights violations, war crimes and destabilizing the region.
These examples show that the US and NATO have often acted unilaterally or selectively in pursuing their interests, without regard for international law, multilateralism or the consequences for other countries. They also show that some of the new BRICS members have been directly or indirectly affected by such interference.
Therefore, it is imperative for BRICS to develop a common strategy to defend its members against US and NATO interference. Such a strategy should be based on the respect for sovereignty and non-interference. BRICS should uphold the principle of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, as enshrined in the UN Charter. BRICS should also oppose any attempts by external powers to impose their will or values on other countries or regions, especially through coercive or violent means. BRICS should also support the right of self-determination for peoples who are oppressed or marginalized by their governments or foreign forces.
Most importantly, BRICS should promote multilateralism and dialogue as the preferred means of resolving disputes and conflicts among countries or regions. BRICS should use its collective voice and influence to advocate for peaceful solutions that respect international law and human rights. BRICS should also engage with other regional and global actors, such as the UN, the African Union, the Arab League, ASEAN and others, to foster cooperation and trust.
Indeed, BRICS should focus on development and cooperation as the main drivers of its agenda. BRICS should leverage its economic potential and resources to support its members and other developing countries in achieving their development goals. BRICS should also enhance its cooperation in various fields, such as trade, investment, infrastructure, health, education, science and technology, climate change and security. BRICS should also share its experiences and best practices with other countries that face similar challenges or opportunities.
Diversity and solidarity shall be the core strengths of BRICS, respecting the different political systems, economic models, cultural backgrounds and strategic interests of its members. BRICS should also support each other in times of crisis or difficulty. BRICS should also foster a sense of belonging and identity among its people through cultural exchanges, people-to-people contacts and civil society engagement.
By following these principles, BRICS can defend its members against US and NATO interference and create a more balanced, inclusive and multipolar world order. BRICS can also contribute to the global peace, stability and prosperity that benefit all countries and peoples.
