BRICS : The excitement grows

One thing about BRICS, the expectations and appetite is high to implement the changes that we all know are so necessary. This alone leads to an excitement as a BRICS summit nears. So, September 12, and we are off to the races.

It is clear that this summit is considered important as we will have both Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping on the ground – as well as Modi from India of course: The original RIC. Bi-lateral meetings are now being feverishly arranged and the expectation is that BRICS will catch a glow of healthy fire again. Who is going to play cute with Putin and Xi and Modi on the ground? The power is enormous. India’s objectives or vision for their year of chairmanship was resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. We will soon see what they have actually accomplished.

China is taking over the rotating chairmanship for the new year and we will be out of the lean years of Brazil and India’s less than stellar chairmanship.

The sherpas report that they are hard at work crafting a statement that would be acceptable for the group as a collective statement. But, there will be sharp divergences. These will edge around West Asia, Israel, Oil, Commodities, Opening of the Strait of Hormuz, serious supply chain fractures as a minimum.

Xi Jinping will talk up in public the Chinese philosophy in their Global Governance conceptual guidance, and Russia will not be far behind in their Collective Security strategic concept. Russia will talk up the Northern Sea Route. I don’t think Putin or Xi Jinping will mince words in private discussions. BRICS may coalesce more around Belt and Road and SCO vision and BRICS vision may come closer together. There is a need for both organizations.

Where there will be unity, is on the economic side. Peskov noted that numerous BRICS member states are faced with illegal restrictions (third party sanctions) and are looking for ways to ensure their mutual financial settlements. In my expectation that will be the most important issue and if we can make progress on this vector, it will be worth while. What is on the agenda here is joint economic cooperation, joint investment platforms, completion of plans for a grain exchange and for once supercharging the BRICS Bank. InterBRICS trading is high on the agenda.

As BRICS will lead into the UN General Assembly, BRICS in a implementation mode will change the face of that organization. India’s vision of cooperation is certainly going to get a workout as they are the ones that need to be brought to the water and not even then will they take a sip.

In reality BRICS is going to be forced to take a firm stance irt current world problems.

For factual issues, India at last has their website on its feet and the calendar is on the home page. https://www.brics2026.gov.in/