BRICS struggle to find common ground despite shared ambition to challenge the West
Since 2023, the so-called "bloc" has been steadily expanding. It now brings together 11 countries representing about half of the world's population and 30% of global GDP. Historic members – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – are now joined by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Indonesia. Also present in Rio will be 10 "associated" states: Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan.
Meticulously prepared by the Brazilians, the summit will nevertheless take place without two major figures: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. The Russian president, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, will participate via video link. "The Brazilian government was unable to adopt a clear position that would allow our president to attend this meeting," lamented Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin diplomatic adviser, who specified that Putin would be replaced by his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
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