Short Comments on BRICS

We’re on the countdown to the real summit (from 22 to 24 August in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa) which may turn out to be the biggest thing since sliced bread.  Please also note this.

I also wrote this in the exact way that I speak about and consider things before writing, before changing observations into decent geopolitical language.  This is my cussings over breakfast.

In the media space, mainly from Reuters, lots of talk appeared that Brazil and India are against the growth of BRICS, or against fast growth of BRICS, or against something (being from Reuters ya’know).  Specifically in the US alt media, words started flowing like waterfalls and we had assessments and analysis as if everyone suddenly had the real dirt on BRICS.

What happened is that the Sherpas sent their recommendations for new countries to be allowed to the BRICS group and the process and procedure to the BRICS leaders.  And suddenly, Reuters knew it all and all of this India and Brazil stances came mainly from Reuters.  It is easy to find and one does not have to go and do research into BRICS itself.  So, the story sold itself with easy-to-find material that could be embellished and regurgitated and sound knowledgable.  None of this even appeared in the formal BRICS announcements.  Someone ran to the mainstream media.

Here is the real meat but not yet the steak tartare or a good Kobe steak.  That will come later.  India is cautioning not to grow BRICS too fast.  This is a caution that I echoed in the past before I had a good grasp on how interlinked BRICS is with the Friends of BRICS.  Brazil is playing a power game, and from the Brazilians themselves, Lula is cautioning against BRICS growth, simply because Brazil does not want to lose its influence to a bunch of BRICS newbies.   Is this a ploy?  That we do not know.

We have just seen Brazil try its hand at a power play.  Yes, with multipolarity there will be a lot of power plays.  In essence, multipolarity is an issue of balance of power.  I see an African power play as well but will leave that one to play out for now before commenting on it.  We are not in Nirvana yet.  India has settled down and they are content that this issue is the main one on the agenda of the BRICS summit and will be discussed and agreed in that forum and not via Reuters.  Brazil will tumble, as there is no possible way that Lula will stand in the way of new BRICS members from the LAC.  As Lavrov says, it is a historical reality.

Nevertheless, we have optics.  We all know that Mr.Putin will attend virtually.  Modi had a snit-fit and he is not going either but will attend virtually.  I have no confirmation so far that LULA will attend.  Xi Jinping will not attend.  So, what does this make of Cyril Ramaphosa?  Are ‘The Presidents’ abandoning him so that he is the sole Presidential figure of the five at the upcoming summit?  BRICS my friends, are in trouble and I cannot wait for Russia to take the Chair after this summit!