Brazil, sliding away from BRICS

With thanks to our dear friend, Quantum Bird

Performance anxiety is characterized by the continuous search for the esteem of others and is closely related to the fear of not living up to a situation or task. Typically, the anxious person projects expectations that they do not feel, or know they are not, capable of meeting and fails to deliver what is promised at the crucial time. Could this be the underlying problem of the current Brazilian administration?

We have all been following the wonderful speeches made by the Brazilian president at the most diverse forums in the Global South and meetings at the United Nations. Bold and unabashed calls for peace in the world, de-dollarization, social justice and the establishment of a fair international order. The problem is that, so far, and despite the countless opportunities that have presented themselves, the Brazilian government has not been able to convert words into action. Sometimes, it even practices the opposite of what it preaches, such as meddling in Venezuelan domestic affairs.

In what seems to be the latest iteration of this game of expectations and frustration, we have the announcement that due to a domestic accident – there is talk of a fall while showering – president Lula will not attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. Remember that this meeting in Kazan has been foreseen as the stage for crucial developments in the consolidation of multipolarity, such as practical measures on de-dollarization and establishment of alternative payment platforms. Brazil will be represented by its foreign affairs minister, Mauro Vieira, who has a history of gaffes and was involved in an unnecessary controversy with Sergey Lavrov during the last UN assembly. In any case, according to images released by the government itself Lula is apparently fine and continues to work normally. The wound on the back of his head is not visible in the photo.

Did Lula slip in the shower because he remembered his statement about Brazil’s willingness to comply with the arrest warrant issued against President Putin by the ICC last year? Maybe he realized how embarrassing and shameful it would be for him to shake hands and pose for a photo with Putin after that sad and ridiculous performance, which only exposed to the world that he doesn’t control much the government he was elected to lead. Or, is there some fear of disapointing the democratic “partners” in Washington?

From the depths of my memory come echoes of 2015, when, at maximum point of the hybrid war in Brazil, and in the heat of the scale of events that precipitated the conflict in Ukraine, the then president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, declined to take part in that year’s Victory Day Parade in Russia – considered an historic event, all the others BRICS presidents were there. Rousseff could not participate, she had to be a bridesmaid at her doctor’s wedding. The representative sent by Brazil was Jaques Wagner, then Minister of the Civil House, which had no connection with foreign affairs at all. Rousseff was impeached less than one year later, in 2016.

The truth is that Brazil does not behave like a serious member of the BRICS and its political class, regardless of party or ideological line, are not ready to renounce their colonial mentality.

Portuguese version at Saker Latinoamérica: https://sakerlatam.blog/brasil-nos-brics-ansia-do-desempenho-ou-deja-vu-vu/