MOSCOW - 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.
Ryabkov always makes a point to note, in public and in private, that the twofold increase of BRICS members starting on 1 January 2024 is "an unprecedented event for any international structure."
It isn't an easy task, Ryabkov says:
Last year, it took an entire year to develop the admission, expansion criteria at the level of top officials. Many reasonable things were developed. And many of the things that were formulated back then got reflected in the list of countries that joined. But it would probably be improper to formalize the requirements. At the end of the day, an admission to the association is a subject of political decision.
Comment: It looks seriously as if quite a number of Western leaders are collectively suffering from Dunning-Kruger syndrome. It is also likely that those behind the scenes, who are pulling the strings of the Western leaders, are getting desperate as things are not going according to their plans.
For those in the West who calls for Ukraine to win and for Russia to be defeated, they would do well to remember the universal law of Hubris and Nemesis. This idea of Hubris and Nemesis is also reflected in the Chinese concept of the Mandate of Heaven, with the idea that if rulers failed to look after their people, then Heaven would withdraw the divine mandate to rule. Pierre Lescaudron wrote about this in his book: Earth Changes and the Human-Cosmic Connection
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