BRICS: Can The Bloc Still Speak With One Voice?

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BRICS: Can The Bloc Still Speak With One Voice?

23 juil. 2025 08:44

BRICS, a bloc of initially an association of five major emerging economies that have significant influence on global affairs has witnessed an expansion in the past few years. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa started the bloc in order to foster cooperation, promote economic growth, development, trade and increase their collective voice in global governance as well as promote a more multipolar world order. Today, the grouping currently has 10 member countries with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia joined. There are others countries which are for now, observers. Though created to present a common front on global issues, the recent summit of BRICS that took place in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on July 6 and 7, 2025 has cast aspersions on whether the bloc can still speak with one voice. The conspicuous absence of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader, Xi Jinping as well as Egypt, a new member; is a clear indication that there might be cracks on the wall of the bloc. Though this school of thought might be right or wrong on their speculation, the founding members had their representative at the Brazil summit. Their absence has sparked speculation about unity and priorities with the BRICS alliance, particularly after its recent expansion. Some pundits hold that the group’s growing membership might have diminished its ideological value to founding members like Russia and China. However, the absence of the key figures notably Russia and Chinese leaders at the event was justified by varied reasons. For Russia, the International Court of Justice arrest warrant hanging on Vladimir Putin for his role in the Ukraine-Russia war since 2022 is a major reason for his absence. Brazil being a signatory to the Role Statute, it would have required to enforce the arrest warrant thereby causing embarrassment to the summit hosts. The Russian leader had no option than to participate via a video link. For Xi Jinping, his absence was attributed to scheduling conflicts though analyst...