logo
West using conflicts to disrupt BRICS rise

West using conflicts to disrupt BRICS rise

Russia Todaya day ago
Western states led by the US provoke wars to make profit and preserve a 'decaying' unipolar world order, Bolivian President Luis Arce has told RT. In contrast, BRICS countries represent an emerging, more equal global order, he said.
Arce cited the recent Iran-Israel escalation and the Ukraine conflict, alleging that Western officials deliberately exaggerated threats – such as claims that Russia could attack the EU – to provoke fear and justify escalation.
'These claptrap statements that provoked the war between Russia and Ukraine are the same statements that led to mutual attacks between Israel and Iran. They follow the same logic, they want to provoke the BRICS countries to take retaliatory actions,' Arce told RT at the BRICS Summit in Brazil.
'We all understand that wars benefit one country – the US, which is the main supplier of weapons. This sector... stimulates the American economy, which is in decline. The Americans have always sought to unleash wars, because for them it is a way to solve economic problems,' Arce added.
He claimed that the US and EU realize they are losing influence and are trying to block emerging power centers.
'The BRICS countries are playing an increasingly important role… There is a clear struggle between the old stagnant bloc of the US and Europe on one side and the emerging bloc of BRICS countries on the other,' the Bolivian leader stated.
Arce said his country rejects unipolarity and promotes multilateralism.
'We no longer believe that the planet should be dominated by one country… The fact that more and more countries want to join the BRICS group is a convincing proof that the world embraces the principle of multilateralism,' the Bolivian leader stated. He added that BRICS does not make subordinates of its members, but allows them all to benefit from mutual cooperation.
BRICS was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2006, and later added South Africa, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Indonesia. At last year's summit in Kazan, the group introduced a 'partner country' status after receiving over 30 membership applications.
In their declaration at the Rio summit that started on Sunday, BRICS leaders backed a multipolar world, UN Security Council reform, and fairer global finance. They called for IMF and World Bank reforms, stronger trade among BRICS states, expanded use of local currencies, and alternative payment systems.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Von der Leyen blames Russia for no-confidence motion
Von der Leyen blames Russia for no-confidence motion

Russia Today

timean hour ago

  • Russia Today

Von der Leyen blames Russia for no-confidence motion

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has dismissed efforts by members of the European Parliament to oust her, branding her critics 'conspiracy theorists' and accusing them of acting on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Von der Leyen is facing a parliamentary motion of no-confidence in her presidency, which is scheduled for a vote on Thursday after being tabled by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea. Addressing the parliament during a debate on Monday, von der Leyen said those backing the proposal were following 'the oldest playbook of extremists' and were attempting to undermine public confidence in the EU with 'false claims.' 'There is no proof that they have any answers, but there is ample proof that many are supported by our enemies and by their puppet masters in Russia or elsewhere.' 'These are movements fueled by conspiracies, from anti-vaxxers to Putin apologists. And you only have to look at some of the signatories of this motion to understand what I mean.' In his remarks to parliament, Piperea accused the Commission of centralizing decision-making in a non-democratic fashion and of interfering in the internal affairs of member states. Russian officials have claimed that EU leaders are using fear tactics to shield themselves from criticism. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dubbed von der Leyen, who is German, a 'fuhrer' for her efforts to push a multi-billion euro militarization program on member states. Russia maintains that unlike Western states it does not interfere with other nations' domestic affairs. Von der Leyen urged 'all the pro-Europeans, pro-democracy forces' in the chamber to support her agenda, arguing that unity was essential to uphold the EU's foreign policy strength. Criticism of von der Leyen's leadership has centered on her handling of the EU's Covid-19 response during her first term, particularly the lack of transparency in finalizing a 2021 vaccine procurement deal with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. Earlier this year, the European Court of Justice found her office at fault for failing to retain text messages exchanged with Bourla and for refusing to release them to journalists with adequate justification. Piperea is a member of Romania's AUR party, led by George Simion, who narrowly lost a presidential runoff this year to a pro-EU candidate. The election followed a scrapped first-round vote earlier in 2024, in which outsider Calin Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner. The country's Constitutional Court annulled the results, citing government allegations of Russian interference. Critics of the EU claim the episode reflects a broader anti-democratic trend allegedly enabled by Brussels.

Lavrov slams IMF and World Bank for favoring Ukraine over Africa
Lavrov slams IMF and World Bank for favoring Ukraine over Africa

Russia Today

time6 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Lavrov slams IMF and World Bank for favoring Ukraine over Africa

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has criticized the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for what he described as a deeply unbalanced distribution of financial aid, citing data that shows Ukraine has received more support in recent years than the entire African continent. Speaking at the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Lavrov argued that the current structure of global financial institutions, established under the Bretton Woods system, disproportionately benefits Western-aligned countries at the expense of other developing nations. 'This has been most clearly demonstrated in the case of Ukraine,' Lavrov said, noting that the scale of financial assistance provided to Kiev exceeds all IMF and World Bank funding for the nations of Africa combined over the past two years. He called the disparity a 'disgraceful statistic' that undermines the credibility of both institutions. According to Lavrov, the World Bank has committed $54 billion to Ukraine since early 2022, twice as much as the annual volumes allocated to all Africa countries by Bretton Woods institutions. He also cited the IMF's approval in 2023 of a $15.6 billion loan to Ukraine, equivalent to 577% of the country's quota. 'It makes up more than a third of the annual volume of all IMF programs,' Lavrov said. The Russian minister emphasized that BRICS countries had placed a special focus on reforming global financial governance during the summit. He reaffirmed the group's call for an accelerated redistribution of IMF quotas and voting rights to better reflect the economic weight of emerging markets. Lavrov also highlighted the shifting dynamics of the global economy, noting that countries of the Global South and East are becoming key drivers of growth. He underscored the growing influence of regional organizations such as the African Union and positioned BRICS as a leading force in shaping a new economic order. According to Lavrov, the group aims 'to build a more stable global economic architecture based on the principles of universality, transparency, non-discrimination, and equal access to available opportunities and instruments.' BRICS, which held its first summit in 2009, currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. In early 2025, Bolivia, Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uganda and Uzbekistan became partners of the bloc. In June, they were joined by Vietnam.

Stop using the US dollar
Stop using the US dollar

Russia Today

time8 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Stop using the US dollar

Countries around the globe should give up on the US dollar and rely on national currencies in trading with each other, Bolivian President Luis Arce told RT on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro. The BRICS members have intensified efforts to reduce their reliance on third-party currencies in bilateral trade after the West froze Moscow's assets, mostly held in dollars and euros, as part of sanctions following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. In his interview with RT on Monday, Arce made it clear that he supports BRICS' policies, saying that as part of 'decoupling' from the US, 'we need as countries in the world… to stop using the US dollar. We have also proposed it.' 'It is better to trade and trust in our own currencies or, at the very least, look for alternative payment mechanisms,' he stressed. The Bolivian leader said that there is currently 'a very clear struggle between the old, declining bloc of the US and Europe versus the emerging bloc of the BRICS countries.' 'We no longer believe that there is dominance by a single country on our planet,' he noted, referring to the US. By obtaining the status of a BRICS partner country this year, Bolivia gained the opportunity to 'access large markets and become part of the bloc that will undoubtedly generate economic benefits for everyone,' Arce said. BRICS, established in 2009, currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. In early 2025, Bolivia, Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uganda and Uzbekistan became partners of the bloc. In June, they were joined by Vietnam. On Monday, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on any country which 'aligns itself' with BRICS, accusing the economic bloc of adopting 'anti-American policies.' In February, Trump declared BRICS 'dead' and warned that its members would face 100% duties if they 'play games with the dollar.' The same day, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told RT that trading in national currencies has been effective in freeing the BRICS members from Western pressure. Such settlements 'have proven their reliability and independence from Western lending institutions that at any moment, as it turned out, can suspend payments,' he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last year that Russia has been doing 65% of its trade with fellow BRICS countries in national currencies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store