Russia
Source: en.interaffairs.ru

BRICS doubled its membership at the start of 2024, and faces huge tasks ahead: integrating its newest members, developing future admission criteria, deepening the institution's groundings, and most importantly, launching the mechanisms for bypassing the US dollar in international finance, notes Pepe Escobar, a columnist at The Cradle, editor-at-large at Asia Times and an famous independent geopolitical analyst.

Across the Global South, countries are lining up to join the multipolar BRICS and the Hegemon-free future it promises. The onslaught of interest has become an unavoidable theme of discussion during this crucial year of the Russian presidency of what, for the moment, is BRICS-10.

Indonesia and Nigeria are among the top tiers of candidates likely to join. The same applies to Pakistan and Vietnam. Mexico is in a very complex bind: how to join without summoning the ire of the Hegemon.

And then there's the new candidacy on a roll: Yemen, which enjoys plenty of support from Russia, China, and Iran.

It's been up to Russia's top BRICS sherpa, the immensely capable Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, to clarify what's ahead. He tells TASS:

We must provide a platform for the countries interested in rapprochement with the BRICS, where they will be able to work practically without feeling left behind and joining this cooperation rhythm. And as to how the further expansion will be decided upon – this should be postponed at least until the leaders convene in Kazan to decide.

The key decision on BRICS+ expansion will only come out of the Kazan summit next October. Ryabkov stresses that the order of the day is first "to integrate those who have just joined." This means that "as a 'ten,' we work at least as efficiently, or, rather, more efficiently than we did within the initial 'five.'"

Only then will the BRICS-10 "develop the category of partner states," which, in fact, means creating a consensus-based list out of the dozens of nations that are literally itching to join the club.

In a meeting on the sidelines of the recent multipolar conference in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke effusively of BRICS, with particular emphasis on his counterparts Wang Yi of China and S. Jaishankar of India.

Lavrov holds great expectations for BRICS-10 this year – at the same time, reminding everyone that this is still a club; it must eventually go deeper in institutional terms, for instance, by appointing a secretariat-general, just like its cousin-style organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Russian presidency will have its hands full for the next few months, not only navigating the geopolitical spectrum of current crises but, most of all, geoeconomics. A crucial ministerial meeting in June – only three months away – will have to define a detailed road map all the way to the Kazan summit.

And that brings us to the key geoeconomics dossier: the BRICS at the forefront of bypassing the US dollar in international finance.

Top Kremlin adviser Yury Ushakov announced that BRICS will work towards setting up an independent payment system based on digital currencies and blockchain.

Ushakov specifically emphasized "state-of-the-art tools such as digital technologies and blockchain. The main thing is to make sure it is convenient for governments, common people, and businesses, as well as cost-effective and free of politics."

Ushakov recalls how, in the 2023 Johannesburg Declaration, the BRICS heads of state focused on increasing settlements in national currencies and strengthening correspondent banking networks. The target was to "continue to develop the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, primarily regarding the use of currencies different from the US dollar."

All of the above frames the absolute key issue being currently discussed in Moscow, within the Russia–China partnership, and soon, deeper among the BRICS-10: alternative settlement payments to the US dollar, increased trade among "friendly nations," and controls on capital flight.

Ryabkov added more crucial elements to the debate, saying this week that the BRICS are not debating the implementation of a single currency:

As for a single currency, similar to what was created by the European Union, this is hardly possible in the foreseeable future. If we are talking about clearing forms of mutual settlements such as the ECU [European Currency Unit] at an early stage of development of the European Union, in the absence of a real means of payment, but the opportunity to more effectively use the available resources of the countries in mutual settlements to avoid losses due to differences in exchange rates, and so on, then this is precisely the path along which, in my opinion, BRICS should move. This is under consideration.

The key takeaway, per Ryabkov, is that the BRICS should not create a financial and monetary alliance; they should create payment and settlement systems that do not depend upon the shifty "rules-based international order."

Ryabkov's own takeaway mirrors what the BRICS as a whole are aiming at:

Collectively, we must come up with a product that would be, on the one hand, quite ambitious (because it is impossible to continue to tolerate the dictates of the west in this area), but at the same time realistic, not out of touch with the ground. That is, a product that would be efficient. And all this should be presented in Kazan for consideration by the leaders.

In a nutshell: the big breakthrough may be literally knocking at the BRICS door. It just depends on a simple green light by the Russian government.

Now compare the BRICS devising the contours of a new geoeconomics paradigm with the collective west mulling the actual theft of Russia's seized assets to the benefit of the black hole that is Ukraine.

Apart from being a de facto declaration by the US and EU against Russia, this is something that carries the potential, in itself, of totally smashing the current global financial system.

A theft of Russian assets, would it ever happen, will render livid, to put it mildly, at least two key BRICS members, China and Saudi Arabia, who bring to the table considerable economic heft. Such a move by the west would completely destroy the concept of the rule of law, which theoretically underpins the global financial system.

The Russian response will be fierce. The Russian Central Bank could, in a flash, sue and confiscate the assets of Belgian Euroclear, one of the world's largest settlement and clearing systems, on whose accounts Russian reserves were frozen.

And that on top of seizing Euroclear's assets in Russia – which amount to roughly 33 billion euros. With Euroclear running out of capital, the Belgian Central Bank will have to revoke its license, causing a massive financial crisis, Pepe Escobar concludes.

Russia
Source: russiancouncil.ru

The expansion of BRICS with the accession of Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia starting on January 1, 2024 will make it possible to use this format for deepening practical interaction with the new members on the UN agenda, including on the issues of reforming its main body – the Security Council. In the meantime, almost all newcomers, given their political and economic weight, are seriously competing with the "old-timers" of BRICS – Brazil, India and South Africa – who also claim a permanent membership at the UN Security Council.

The BRICS member states are paying increased attention to the UN reform. Brazil, India and South Africa should be mentioned in the first place, because these nations are seeking a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Thus, the Johannesburg Declaration-II, adopted on August 23, 2023 as an outcome of the 15th summit of BRICS, expresses support for the reform of the UN, including the Security Council. For the first time, the BRICS document endorses the UNSC reform through expanded representation of developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America (including Brazil, India and South Africa) in all categories of membership, which implies permanent seats on the UNSC. In this regard, it can be assumed that the new member states will also try to chart their aspirations to enter the UN Security Council, or they will depersonalize the applicants by listing the regions whose countries may claim the prestigious status.

In the context of reforming the main UN bodies, the BRICS nations also refer to the 2005 World Summit Outcome. In the run-up to that event, some nations made a number of attempts, albeit unsuccessful, to propose their own vision for reforming the UN Security Council, which is to be discussed below.

The Group of Four

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Brazil and India, together with Germany and Japan, formed the Group of Four (G4) in 2004 with the aim of obtaining permanent seats on the UNSC for its representatives. As a follow-up to the discussion initiated by the then UN Secretary General K. Annan on reforming the UN Security Council, in July 2005. G4 circulated a draft UN General Assembly resolution proposing to expand the Council to 25 members in the same year. The draft provided for an additional six permanent seats (two for Africa and Asia each, one for Latin America and Western Europe each [1]) and four additional non-permanent seats (one for Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America each). The document included a provision to extend the right of veto to new permanent members in the event that such a privilege is confirmed during the UNSC review 15 years after the decision on its enlargement. The decision was to be approved and passed if supported by a two-thirds majority vote at the UNGA. The next step would have been the election of new permanent members of the UNSC by direct secret ballot, followed by amendments to the UN Charter, which would have required ratification by the parliaments of two-thirds of UN member states, including all permanent members of the Security Council.

However, over time, the Quartet's position has undergone some changes with a view to a broader support for the initiative, in particular from the African and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) group.

Thus, on December 13, 2023, during the first informal meeting of the UN General Assembly within the framework of intergovernmental negotiations on the Security Council reform (hereinafter – the first informal meeting of the UN General Assembly), representatives of all G4 countries advocated for the general expansion of the Council to 25-26 members. As for the greater number of non-permanent members, the need to pay special attention to small and medium-sized nations as well as small island developing states was emphasized there. The Quartet hopes that the 80th anniversary of the United Nations to be celebrated in 2025 will bring tangible results on the reform track.

The African Group

African countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa, submitted their own draft UNGA resolution in 2005, which envisioned the UNSC growing to 26 members, while granting the regional group two non-permanent and two permanent seats and all the prerogatives of the P5, including the right of veto. The draft also called for two permanent seats and one non-permanent seat for Asian States, one permanent and one non-permanent seat for Latin American States, one permanent seat for Western Europe and one non-permanent seat for Eastern Europe.

During the first informal meeting of the UN General Assembly, the representatives of Egypt and South Africa reaffirmed their positions (the representative of Sierra Leone spoke on behalf of the African Union) on the expansion of the UN Security Council with the "African" two non-permanent and two permanent seats, with the latter having the right of veto (if such an instrument is retained). However, the Egyptian side was cautious about the size of the Security Council, stating that "the final size of the reformed body is a matter to be determined through careful consideration and a focus on striking the right balance between equitable representation and effectiveness."

Uniting for Consensus

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The position of the Quartet members (as well as African nations) is not endorsed by a number of nations, including their regional rivals, primarily Italy, Spain, Argentina, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Mexico and others. They form the so-called Uniting for Consensus group. In their draft resolution submitted to the UN General Assembly in 2005, they proposed an "interim" reform, whereby the number of seats on the UNSC was to be increased to 25 only in the category of non-permanent members, with a longer term of office and a possibility of immediate re-election. They also called upon the P5 to show restraint in exercising their veto power. In general, Uniting for Consensus has maintained this position up to this date, as confirmed on their behalf by the representatives of Italy and Mexico in the course of the first informal meeting of the UN General Assembly.

In this regard, Buenos Aires rejecting the invitation to participate in BRICS could be welcomed with relief in the capitals of those aspiring for permanent seats on the UNSC, since Argentina, as a member of Uniting for Consensus, would fail to obstruct their reform efforts.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation

Taking into account the accession of Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia to BRICS, which alongside Egypt are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (hereinafter – OIC), the speech of Bahrain on behalf of the OIC during the first informal meeting of the UN General Assembly is worth noting. He demanded permanent Arab representation in the UN Security Council with all the privileges, including the right of veto.

Also, the inability of the UN Security Council to resolve the situation in the Gaza Strip through Washington's fault makes the voices of Arab states increasingly louder as they demand a reform of this body. Thus, the Saudi Foreign Ministry called for reform of the Security Council after the U.S. vetoed on February 20, 2024 the draft resolution penned by the Algerian delegation on behalf of the Arab Group demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone.

Russia and China

Russia has always been in favor of making the Security Council more representative while maintaining its compact composition to ensure an adequate and rapid response to the contemporary challenges and threats. The optimal numerical composition of the renewed Council, in Russia's opinion, is "slightly more than twenty" members ("low twenties"), which runs counter to the proposals to enlarge this body to 25-26 members. As for modifying the methods of operation for the Security Council, the cornerstone of Russia's interests is to preserve the current status and the prerogatives of permanent membership, including the right of veto.

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The course taken by the Russian leadership at the beginning of the 21st century to support some of the countries seeking membership in an enlarged UNSC has recently undergone noticeable adjustments, following the developments in the geopolitical situation and the nature of Russia's cooperation with the aspiring states. The Federal Republic of Germany and Japan, for instance, have been classified as unfriendly nations by the Russian Government's Resolution No. 430-r, dated March 5, 2022.

Following the 15th summit of BRICS in Johannesburg, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov supported the candidacies of India, Brazil and South Africa "as states whose active role in this worldwide organization we appreciate and we want it to be bolstered in the Security Council." Speaking about the claims of the Group of Four, Lavrov noted that its members "share the same interests in a situational sense, but there's no way that Germany and Japan join the Security Council on a permanent basis in any meaningful way, since this would only exacerbate injustice. Neither Germany nor Japan will bring anything new to the Security Council's deliberations as they are obedient to Washington's orders, just like virtually any other Western state," he emphasized.

China's position on reforming the UN Security Council is reduced to general statements that boil down to strengthening the representation of developing nations. Thus, it can be assumed that the option of granting of permanent membership to Japan and Germany is essentially excluded. Another peculiar feature of China's position is the aspiration for the so-called "package solution," i.e. for transformations with the maximum backing of all UN member states, which is an elusive task. It is also important to bear in mind that Japan and India are members of the "Asian" analogue of NATO – the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) – and this cannot but alarm Beijing.

To summarize everything stated above, it is highly probable that the Russian presidency in BRICS will involve the challenge of bringing together the positions of both the "old-timers" and the new members on the UN Security Council reform, to achieve a consolidated undersigning of the relevant section in the final declaration of the Kazan summit to be held in October 2024. This will be a tough task without the political will of all BRICS members, and a reasonable compromise could only be possible if they are willing to bring their approaches closer.

1. Apart from Germany, only eight EU member states (Belgium, Greece, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, France and the Czech Republic), which is only about 1/3 of EU's total membership, co-authored the draft resolution at the time.

Russia
Source: en.interaffairs.ru

The media of the Republic of Chile expressed its intention to reflect the BRICS+ news agenda in greater detail. In March 2024, the digital media companies El Ciudadano and Crónica Digital signed co-operation agreements with TV BRICS International Network. The agreements reached will allow the population of Chile to receive the most up-to-date information on humanitarian and economic activities of the BRICS member countries and supporters of the interstate association. At the same time, the new colleagues of TV BRICS can expect that important news about their country will be directly available to all partners of the media network, which already has more than 60 media outlets from 17 countries.

"TV BRICS network is pleased to begin cooperation with colleagues from Santiago in the year when Russia and Chile celebrate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Partnership in the information sphere helps strengthen cultural exchange and humanitarian ties between our states , as well as the development of dialogue and cooperation between the BRICS countries and the Global South," emphasised Anastasia Shishkalova, head of international projects at TV BRICS .

Founded in 2005, El Ciudadano platform adheres to the principles of independent journalism and promotes a social agenda. Media offices operate in Chile and Mexico. Denis Rogatyuk, Director of International Cooperation at El Ciudadano, noted that multipolarity is growing in today's world, and this is supported by the countries of the Global South. He said it is important for media companies to unite in a common cause and TV BRICS is one of the key initiatives in this direction. "With nearly 18 years of experience, the El Ciudadano team hopes to help readers navigate the vast flow of information and present an independent perspective on international relations," he says.

Crónica Digital media has also been operating since 2005 and covers Latin America and world events. In March 2024, a special TV BRICS section was opened on the website, accumulating the news agenda of the BRICS+ countries. Crónica Digital has a correspondent office in Cuba. It is a member of the National Assembly for Human Rights. "For us, the signing of the co-operation agreement with TV BRICS is of great importance. This partnership will expand bilateral and multilateral ties between the BRICS countries and Latin America, opening new information horizons for Chile and paving the way for the realisation of common media projects, " said Juan Andrés Lagos, member of the Board of Directors of Crónica Digital.

In the Year of Russia's Presidency of the BRICS Association, the International TV BRICS Network is expanding its work in the Spanish-language direction. In March 2024, the Spanish version of the tvbrics.com portal was launched and the corresponding branch of the channel's internet broadcasting was launched. At the moment, about a dozen media outlets in Latin America and the Caribbean are partners of the media network. In addition to Chile, these are the Venezuelan National Assembly's television channel ANTV (Venezuela), teleSUR (Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua), Prensa Latina (Cuba), the digital editions of Ahora San Juan, BRICSLat, AsiaTv and Extra! (Argentina). In February 2024 alone, more than 70 TV BRICS materials have been posted on these resources. For example, teleSUR, one of the leading TV channels in Latin America, devotes an average of 90 minutes of its airtime each month to stories and programmes produced by the media network.

Russia
Source: mid.ru


Consul General of Russia in Kolkata takes part in "BRICS as a global alternative-prospects and concerns for India" conference

On February 22-23, Mr. Alexey Idamkin, Consul General of Russia in Kolkata, participated in the Indian Council of World Affairs sponsored national seminar on "BRICS as a Global Alternative - Prospects and Concerns for India", organized by Netaji Institute for Asian Studies, Adamas University and H.P.Ghosh Research Centre.

The conference included an inaugural session, 3 business sessions, a panel discussion with representatives of BRICS countries and a closing session.

The conference was attended by politicians, political scientists and academia, foreign diplomats and entrepreneurs. Honorable participants included former Ambassador R.Bhatia, former Director General of the Indian Council of World Affairs; professor (Dr) S.Ray, honorable Chancellor, Adamas University; former Ambassador P.S. Raghavan, Chairman, National Security Advisory Board, Government of India; professor A.Mattoo, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; professor S.Das, Director, Netaji Institute For Asian Studies and Vice-Chancellor, Adamas University; Mr. C.S.Ghosh, MD, Bandhan Bank.

On February 23, a panel discussion on "Opportunities Created by BRICS Expansion" was held with presentations by Mr. Alexey Idamkin, Consul General of Russia in Kolkata, His Excellency K.F.Haczynski da Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil to India, and Mr. Qin Yong, Acting Consul General of People's Republic of China in Kolkata. The conversation was moderated by Mr. K.Srinivasan, former Indian Foreign Secretary. Mr. Idamkin spoke about the priorities of the Russian BRICS Chairmanship in 2024, specifically mentioning the activities aimed at enhancing the role of the BRICS countries in the international monetary and financial system, developing interbank cooperation, facilitating the transformation of the international settlement system and expanding the use of national currencies of the BRICS countries in mutual trade.

Russia
Source: eng.globalaffairs.ru

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of Russia's 2024 BRICS Chairmanship, President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed commitment to BRICS' motto "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security" and emphasized the priority of constructive cooperation with all countries concerned.

The question is how Russia will work over the year to achieve this goal amid tumultuous global geopolitical shifts.

In recent years, despite a barrage of Western sanctions, Russia has demonstrated resilience and ability to cope with various challenges, asserting its dominant and responsible position in the global energy system. This resilience is indicative of Russia's strategic importance and adaptability to geopolitical shifts, as well as its role as a key player in shaping the nature and trajectory of the emerging international energy landscape.

In March of this year, Russia's international seaborne crude oil exports surged to the highest level, with shipments reaching 590,000 barrels per day. This increase has reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to OPEC+ production restrictions notwithstanding Western sanctions targeting Russian energy exports. Prior to this, Russia had maintained the position of the biggest global crude oil supplier for the 15th consecutive month until December 2023, as estimated by Vortexa, a London-based analytics platform for energy and freight markets.

Russia has managed to adapt to the changes by well-calculated measures, including by diversifying petroleum exports and exploring new markets beyond traditional ones, and maintaining crude oil sales at 10 MMb/d in 2023 (according to Rosstat reports). Despite transportation and shipment challenges, exports of gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil have shown consistent or growing dynamics. The diversification has effectively countered the impact of the EU's embargo, with overall energy production levels sustained and oil production falling to just 5% from pre-sanction level.

In a strategic maneuver, Rosneft and Indian Oil Corp have shifted to using the Asia-focused Dubai oil price benchmark over the Europe-dominated Brent benchmark. Concurrently, China has significantly increased its purchases of Russian Urals, which are priced against either dated Brent or ICE Brent, which has led to a several-fold increase in purchases by both countries. This has encouraged Russia's bent towards accessing fast-developing markets, primarily in Asia, but not exclusively.

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Russia's influence in the energy market is expanding globally. An illustrative example is Latin America. In 2023, Russia became the largest exporter of diesel fuel to Brazil, having increased supplies by 5,900% (from 101,000 to 6.1 million tons) from the previous year, according to Kpler statistics cited by The Financial Times. Similarly, Cuba relies heavily on Russian crude oil imports to meet electricity needs amid economic challenges and U.S. sanctions. In Venezuela, Russia's substantial investments and loans bolster its position in the oil market, with Roszarubezhneft accounting up to 15-20% of Venezuela's total oil output.

Furthermore, Russia's growing cooperation with Central Asian countries in gas transit and oil supply shows its increasingly firm foothold in the region. For instance, Russia's oil exports to Kazakhstan reached $1.5 billion in 2023 (against $1.2 billion in the previous year), indicating the strengthening of the economic ties. Similarly, Russia's cooperation with Uzbekistan in establishing a tripartite gas union, alongside Kazakhstan, highlights Russia's expanding influence. This is also evidenced by the recently signed contract between Gazprom and Uzbekistan for gas transit services.

African nations show a keen interest in engaging with Russia too, as they recognize the potential benefits of cooperation in the energy sector. Russia reciprocates by deepening its engagement with these nations, fostering positive and interdependent partnerships. Notably, Egypt has emerged as a key recipient of Russian energy investments, with projects like the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, involving investments worth $30 billion, which signals deepening cooperation in the sector. In Sudan, Russia's efforts to establish a sea port, with an estimated investment of $500 million, underscore its strategic interest in securing access to African energy resources. Additionally, Algeria has seen increased collaboration with Russia in natural gas production and exploration, with joint ventures such as the In Salah CCS project contributing to mutual economic growth. These developments exemplify Russia's commitment to expanding its energy footprint in Africa, aligned with its broader goal of diversifying energy partnerships worldwide.



Russia's trajectory towards establishing a BRICS plus Africa Energy Order underlines its strategic pivot towards the development of a new global energy order, mainly by encompassing the fast-developing and developing nations worldwide.


Vladimir Putin's reelection as president will let him translate his vision of BRICS into tangible engagements and partnerships, particularly in the energy sector, where Russia's role is both crucial and expanding.

Amidst the growing global demand for energy and search for dependable and diversified energy sources, Russia's strengthened position as a key global energy supplier is evident in its record high international seaborne crude oil exports, sustained production levels notwithstanding Western sanctions, and its recognition by the developing world as a true energy champion.

President Putin's active engagement with BRICS Plus and extensive involvement in Africa signal a transformative approach to reconfiguring global energy alliances and order. This strategy not only helps diversify the global energy supply chains but also nurtures an ecosystem of mutual energy security and economic prosperity among developing nations. It is in line with Russia's broader economic interests and geopolitical aspirations and paves the way for a more inclusive global energy framework that challenges traditional hegemonies and advocates a balanced, multipolar world order.

Russia
Source: mid.ru

Question: Yerevan will host the first Armenia-BRICS international forum dedicated to Armenia's economic cooperation with this union. How does Moscow assess Yerevan's cooperation with BRICS against the backdrop of its pro-EU leanings?

Maria Zakharova: As far as I understand, the case in point is an initiative advanced by several NGOs that thought it important and interesting to hold this forum. It is a highly relevant topic, given Russia's current BRICS chairmanship.

We welcome any civil society commitment in various countries that at their level want to be non-government vehicles of interesting international projects. This concerns the topics you have mentioned and, in principle, our approach to other tracks. We always give assistance to NGOs that ask us for help.

We will only welcome whatever is of benefit for the people of Armenia from the Western and EU presence. The main thing is that there be no "blood-thirsty wolf" or "saber-toothed tiger" under the EU's "lambskin." This is the great problem and main threat. It is under this guise that they infiltrate internal affairs and economic projects of developing countries involved in a "democratic transit" just as they are picking up speed in their development.

No one wants to dissuade them from pursuing what brings wellbeing and prosperity. The important thing is that wellbeing and prosperity be real rather than yet another attempt to enslave a country with credits and make it a servitor of the capitalists and transnational corporations. Their method is to destroy the existing age-old principles and traditions of a national culture from within and throw a country back to the accompaniment of the sirens' songs about "all the good things" and "strides towards development." This is the only problem. There should be real benefits, not empty promises. The West is a menace because it cheats and deceives, not because it churns out empty promises or lets others down. Though promising prosperity, they are in fact bloodsuckers that destroy what was bearing fruit before.