SUMMARY
- Johannesburg hosts the 15th BRICS Summit: Potential growth, Ukraine tensions, and Western relations discussed.
- Major players attend, Putin goes virtual: over 67 leaders from various regions, but a distinct absence of the West.
- Expansion dilemma: Over 40 nations eye BRICS membership, with internal debates over the group's future dynamic.
In Johannesburg, an event of global proportions is taking place: the 15th BRICS Summit. It brings together five nations with almost half the world's populace, and they're talking about big topics. Think growth of BRICS, the Ukraine situation, and how they gel with the West.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the man of the hour, playing host. Joining him are big names: China's Xi Jinping, Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, India's Narendra Modi, and Russia's Sergei Lavrov. Oh, and Mr. Putin? He's attending virtually, given a little hiccup with an arrest warrant related to war crimes.
This isn't a small gathering. Over 67 leaders from regions like Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and the Caribbean have been invited. Yet, interestingly, Western leaders? None got an invite. But plenty of other key players like the U.N. secretary-general and president of the New Development Bank did.
A major talk point? BRICS possibly adding more members. Imagine this: over 40 countries want in, including economic heavyweights like Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. However, it's not all formal. Some, like Nigeria and Ghana, are just dropping hints without any official paperwork.
Gustavo de Carvalho, a sharp mind at the South African Institute of International Affairs, spilled some beans. Decisions on new members might not be finalized in this summit. But they'll chalk out the "how-tos" of getting in. Oh, and the BRICS family? Not everyone's thrilled about the idea of more members. India's a tad wary, Brazil's playing coy, and Russia? They're like, "Come on in!" The endgame? Not just to rival the big leagues, like G7, but to make their collective voice heard in the global stage.
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