The omission on the agenda of the BRICS Bloc Summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) where the inclusion of Argentina to the group is generating a growing debate among its members.
President, Alberto Fernandez, he chose not to attend the meeting to which he had been invited by protocol. In response to this unexpected change, the Brazilian president, Lula da Silvaexpressed his obvious outrage and made it clear that he would persist in the integration of Argentina to the much coveted Block.
As the conclave progresses, it becomes clear that the decision not only affected Argentinabut also to two other countries: Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Although the inclusion of these two nations was taken for granted, the cancellation of their participation in the summit was due to the change in the agenda proposed by South Africa.
A group of candidates, made up of Saudi Arabia, Argentina and Indonesiahead the list of nations seeking a space within the BRICSwhich also includes Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.
Yes ok India and South Africa they had expressed their support for the expansion of the group before the summit, their position changed at the time of making concrete decisions. The members demanded a differentiated treatment between the five current members and those who intend to joinalthough it is not clear how this distinction would be made.
BRICS: the accession of Argentina in we will see
One of the reasons given to explain the Bloc’s decision is lack of consensus among members of the BRICS. China, Russia and India would have shown resistance to the incorporation of Argentinadue to its ties to the United States, particularly with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
For his part, Brazil It is the member of the BRICS that bids the most for the Argentine proposal. “I defend that Argentina can participate in the BRICS, either now or in another meetingNo, but it has to be. It is very important for Brazil that we can grow together,” he said. Lula at a press conference from johannesburg.
Another reason that has been mentioned is the fear that the incorporation of Argentina dilute the power of the BRICS. Argentina is an important economy, but it is not as big as those of China, Russia, India or Brazil. Its incorporation could make the BRICS become more heterogeneous and difficult to manage.
In that sense, Xi JinpingPresident of China, anticipated: “We will expand a BRICS plus model, actively advance membership expansion, deepen solidarity and cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries“. And he warned: “Whatever resistance arises, the BRICS are a positive and stable force for the world. We will continue to grow.”
There may also be geopolitical interests behind the South African decision to oppose the expansion of the Bloc. This because South Africa is a country close to the United States and Europe, and could be looking to avoid further BRICS alignment with China and Russia. The incorporation of Argentina could have been seen as a step in that direction.
Whatever the reason, the South African decision to remove from the agenda the proposal for the incorporation of Argentina and other countries it was a setback for the aspirations of these countries to join the BRICS. It is also a sign that the block not as close as thought and that the interests of its members may differ in some respects.
Going forward, it will be interesting to see if the BRICS can overcome these differences and advance their development agenda. It will also be interesting to see if Argentina and other countries manage to join the bloc. These developments will have a major impact in the world order and in the relationship between the great powers.
Source: Ambito
