BRICS summit Russia/ Putin BRICS Kazan/ BRICS expands membership/ Russia global influence/ BRICS financial cooperation/ Newslooks/ KAZAN/ Russia/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over the BRICS summit, emphasizing the bloc’s growing role in countering Western influence. The summit in Kazan included discussions on alternative payment systems, regional conflicts, and expanding membership. Leaders from 36 nations attended, reflecting Russia’s success in avoiding international isolation.
BRICS Summit Quick Looks:
- Putin’s address: Putin hailed BRICS as a counter to the West’s “perverse methods” during the summit’s closing session.
- Expanded BRICS membership: New members include Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, with more countries expressing interest.
- Financial independence: BRICS discussed alternatives to Western financial systems, targeting sanctions and trade barriers.
- Xi’s peace proposal: China and Brazil proposed a peace plan for Ukraine, though Ukraine rejected it.
- Guterres in Kazan: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged peace in multiple global conflicts during his visit.
BRICS Summit Concludes with Focus on Challenging Western Dominance
Deep Look:
Putin Presides Over BRICS Summit, Strengthening Russia’s Global Influence
Russian President Vladimir Putin led the closing session of the BRICS summit in Kazan on Thursday, using the platform to emphasize the bloc’s role as a global counterbalance to Western dominance. The three-day summit gathered representatives from 36 nations, including key emerging economies, and focused on deepening financial cooperation, expanding membership, and discussing regional conflicts. Putin’s speech underscored the strategic importance of BRICS as a mechanism for resisting what he described as the West’s “perverse methods” of influence.
BRICS as a Global Counterweight
Putin framed BRICS, which originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, as a necessary response to Western policies that he claimed fuel instability and conflict. He criticized the use of “illegal unilateral sanctions” and accused the West of exploiting issues such as democracy, human rights, and climate change to promote its geopolitical agenda. According to Putin, this approach has only exacerbated global tensions, pointing to the Ukraine conflict as an example of Western meddling.
“Such perverse methods and approaches… lead to the emergence of new conflicts and the aggravation of old disagreements,” Putin said, accusing the West of using Ukraine as a tool to threaten Russia’s security.
Expanding the BRICS Bloc
The BRICS bloc, which was founded in 2009, has been steadily growing. This summit saw the formal inclusion of new members, including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have applied for membership, signaling the group’s increasing geopolitical importance. Several other nations have also expressed interest in joining, illustrating the appeal of an organization that seeks to represent the interests of the Global South and challenge the Western-dominated international order.
The growing membership of BRICS is a testament to the failure of U.S.-led efforts to isolate Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Instead, the summit highlighted Russia’s successful pivot to fostering deeper ties with non-Western nations. The Kremlin hailed the event as “the largest foreign policy event ever held” in Russia, underscoring the country’s efforts to expand its global influence.
Alternative Financial Systems
One of the primary focuses of the summit was to enhance financial cooperation among BRICS members, particularly in developing alternatives to Western-dominated payment systems like SWIFT. Russia, which has been targeted by extensive sanctions from the West, has pushed for the creation of a new payment mechanism that would allow it to bypass these restrictions and trade freely with its BRICS partners.
A joint declaration issued by summit participants highlighted their commitment to building “faster, low-cost, more efficient, transparent, safe, and inclusive cross-border payment instruments.” These efforts are aimed at minimizing trade barriers and ensuring that BRICS members have non-discriminatory access to financial networks, a key element in reducing Western leverage over the global economy.
China’s Peace Proposal for Ukraine
Chinese President Xi Jinping used the summit as an opportunity to advocate for peace in Ukraine. Xi reiterated that both China and Brazil have proposed a peace plan for the conflict, though it has been rejected by Ukraine. While the West has largely dismissed China’s efforts as biased toward Russia, Xi called for de-escalation and emphasized the need for a political solution to the war.
“We should promote the de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible and pave the way for a political settlement,” Xi said during his address on Thursday.
Putin and Xi have maintained a close alliance throughout the Ukraine war, having declared a “no-limits” partnership just before Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. The two leaders have met multiple times this year, underscoring the strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing.
Guterres Calls for Global Peace
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also attended the summit, marking his first visit to Russia in over two years. Addressing the BRICS Plus session, Guterres called for an immediate end to the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Sudan. He urged all parties involved to pursue peace in line with the U.N. Charter and international law.
“We need peace in Ukraine, a just peace in line with the U.N. Charter, international law, and General Assembly resolutions,” Guterres said, emphasizing the urgency of resolving global conflicts.
Guterres’ presence in Kazan drew criticism from Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials expressing frustration over the U.N. leader’s visit to a country they accuse of destabilizing Europe.
Western Media Reactions and Russian Media Narrative
Russia’s state-controlled media portrayed the summit as a resounding success, asserting that BRICS now represents half the world’s population and embodies the “global majority.” Commentators on Russian television claimed that the West’s attempts to isolate Russia had backfired, instead leaving the U.S. and its allies isolated on the world stage. Yevgeny Popov, a host on the state channel Rossiya 1, declared that “Washington, Brussels, and London ended up isolating themselves.”
The emphasis on BRICS as a powerful force challenging Western “hegemony” resonated throughout Russian media coverage, reinforcing the narrative that Russia, along with its BRICS partners, is leading the charge in reshaping the global order.
Conclusion: A Strengthened Global Bloc
The BRICS summit in Kazan showcased Russia’s ability to rally support from major emerging economies, even as the West continues its efforts to pressure Moscow over its actions in Ukraine. With expanding membership and a focus on financial independence, BRICS is positioning itself as a key player in the evolving global landscape, challenging the dominance of Western institutions and promoting a multipolar world order.
