Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the BRICS Business Forum in Moscow, Russia, on October 18, 2024. The event was an opportunity for Russia to host the latest BRICS summit, where it is extending invitations to its geopolitical allies as part of an effort to promote a “new world order,” positioning itself in opposition to the West. Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the group expanded with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010. Over time, it has evolved into a geopolitical platform for influential nations outside Western influence.
The BRICS configuration recently gained additional influence when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates joined in January, making membership appealing for countries aiming to enhance trade, investment, and economic development. Russia is actively reaching out to the “Global South,” which consists of developing regions in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, as a counterbalance to the industrialized “Global North,” historically led by the U.S.
President Putin has openly expressed his vision to create a “new world order” that challenges the dominance held by the U.S.-led West. The Russian leader sees the upcoming summit as an opportunity for Russia, which currently holds the rotating BRICS presidency, to show that it retains global respect and has powerful allies despite its economic isolation and the heavy sanctions imposed by the West due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Putin regards the increased membership of BRICS as a strong signal of the group’s growing authority and its role in international affairs. On Friday, he indicated that the “BRICS+” format aims to challenge the West on both geopolitical and economic fronts. Speaking to officials and businesspeople at a BRICS business forum in Moscow, Putin highlighted the potential of BRICS to drive global economic growth in the coming years, emphasizing the importance of economic sovereignty.
At the upcoming summit, Moscow looks forward to discussions with allies about interactions in the emerging multipolar world and the possibilities of building a new world order with partners and like-minded nations. As part of these efforts, nearly 40 countries from the Global South are expected to attend the last day of the three-day summit, known as the Outreach/BRICS Plus summit, in an attempt to strengthen ties.
According to Callum Fraser, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, the BRICS expansion represents a global shift away from Western economic dominance. However, it remains to be seen how effectively BRICS+ will challenge the Western-dominated G7 or how closely the member nations can align their international visions. Currently, the primary motivator for BRICS+ nations is the desire to achieve a better quality of life independently from Western cooperation, resulting in further collaboration among members.
The theme for the 16th BRICS summit is “strengthening multilateralism for just global development and security.” The Kremlin stated that leaders would exchange views on pressing global and regional issues and discuss the expansion of BRICS through a “partner state” category. Whether the conflict in Ukraine will be acknowledged at the summit remains uncertain, with Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noting that while Ukraine is not on the agenda, participants could discuss it at their discretion.
The Kremlin is eager to steer discussions away from Russia’s military activities in Ukraine, instead focusing on international issues like the Middle East situation and collaboration with the Global South. President Putin is scheduled for meetings with various leaders, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, China’s President Xi Jinping, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian might sign a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” agreement at the summit, reflecting a commitment to deepen military and defense cooperation. Additional meetings with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi are anticipated. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had to cancel his trip to Russia after sustaining an injury at home. Saudi Arabia, invited to join but not yet formally a member, is also participating in the summit in Kazan, Russia. Meanwhile, Argentina opted not to join the group in 2023, citing a shift in foreign policy.