Russian President Vladimir Putin scored a public relations victory by hugging Chinese dictator Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the second day of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. It was a photo opportunity that sent a message about the West's efforts to isolate them diplomatically and economically. Russia's invasion of Ukraine failed.
president putin claimed At the summit, it was revealed that more than 30 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS. The group was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, and was joined by South Africa the following year.
First expansion since 2010 occurred Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia were added to the list in January.
BRICS had previously suggested that 13 more potential members were working closely with the group, but Putin's claims on Wednesday more than doubled that number. BRICS officials said the Kazan summit was attended by representatives from 36 countries and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
President Putin said BRICS should carefully consider further expansion.
“It would be a mistake to ignore the unprecedented interest of countries in the Global South and East in strengthening ties with BRICS. At the same time, there is a need to maintain balance and prevent a decline in the effectiveness of BRICS,” he said.
“We are all witnessing the dynamic growth of BRICS and the strengthening of their authority and influence in world affairs,” he said.
president putin said The BRICS approach is “particularly relevant in the current context, where truly fundamental changes are underway around the world, including the formation of a multipolar world.”
India and China have important differences, but they do share a desire to buy Russian oil. India is more concerned about the war in Ukraine than China, but PM Modi only expressed hopes for peace at the summit without harshly criticizing Russia's brutality in the conflict.
Putin tightens grip on Xi and Modi on stage hug It was a signal that a new post-American order was emerging. Some analysts believe Putin could accept some version of the Ukraine peace plan offered by China and Brazil and drive that message home by excluding the United States and European countries from the process. . However, Ukrainians displayed have little interest Accepted proposals from China and Brazil.
The Kazan Declaration, drawn up at the summit, condemned Israel for the Gaza war, but only mentioned Russia's invasion of Ukraine once. Ukraine derided the result as patently absurd.
“Moscow's attempt to impose an alternative position of the so-called Global South regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine has failed once again,” Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said. said on wednesday.
President Putin on Wednesday updated He called on BRICS to develop an alternative payment system to displace the US dollar as the world's trading currency. His de-dollarization plan has faced some resistance in the past from member states such as India, which want to maintain friendly relations with the United States and integrate with Western economies.
“The dollar is being used as a weapon. I think it really is. I think this is a big mistake on the part of those who do this,” Putin said, adding that China and Russia now have almost 95% of their trade. % in Russian rubles.
of washington post noticed The BRICS summit is “Russia's largest post-war geopolitical event” and is also “the first official meeting in five years between the estranged leaders of China and India.”
In addition to the summit, President Putin also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshikian took advantage of this opportunity to praise Strengthening ties between Iran and Russia is “strategic and extremely beneficial.”
“I also consider the BRICS framework, along with the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which are members with Russian support, to be a suitable platform for constructive interaction,” the Iranian president said.
Mr. Pezeshkian expressed hope that BRICS could counter America's “unilateralist and hegemonic policies,” which meant shielding dungeon states like Iran from human rights sanctions. President Putin was very receptive to this idea.
“In general, I have to say that Russia and Iran’s views on global issues are closely aligned or even completely identical. While maintaining the central role of the United Nations, we We aim to build a just and multipolar world order,” Putin said.
The feather in Putin's geopolitical cap came with some embarrassment. BRICS attendees couldn't help but notice rolling internet blackouts in Kazan due to signal jamming to thwart Ukrainian drones, and attendees were forced to carry wads of cash due to the international situation. I had an obligation. Sanctions against Russia have prohibited the use of credit cards.
