PH warned on joining BRICS: US won’t allow us to do it

THE just concluded BRICS Plus Summit chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin held in Kazan, Russia, was graced by 42 delegations, 24 heads-of-state, six international organization including the United Nations, 36 countries, 5,000 members of official delegations and over 2,000 media representatives from the global media.

The summit concluded with the ‘Kazan Summit Declaration’ that we see as ending 500 years of the era of Western colonialism and a “unipolar” world and opening up to the “multipolar” world anchored on peace, prosperity and a just and equitable world.

The BRICS economic-geopolitical bloc consisting of the global majority of nations emerging from the end of the era of Western colonization saw its most energetic revival since the 14th BRICS Summit chaired by China and guided by President Xi Jinping in 2022, followed by South Africa’s hosting of the 15th BRICS Summit in 2023.

Now, the world sees an expanded BRICS with the original members of Brazil Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) joined by Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE; “partner status” has been granted to four ASEAN countries– Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand plus Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Turkeye, Uganda and Uzbekistan.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto voice the Philippines’ aspiration to join BRICS. However, he was discouraged by ASEAN diplomatic guru and former UN Security Council president, Kishor Mahbubani, advising that “The United States doesn’t want any of its allies (vassals?) to join BRICS…” That says everything about what the world thinks of the Philippines today.

Below are the key highlights of the 2024 BRICS Summit condensed from TASS news agency:

The UN

The BRICS leaders expressed their support for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with the aim of making it more democratic, representative, and effective.

Sanctions

The countries of the association spoke out against politically motivated unilateral sanctions that undermine other countries’ development.

Conflicts

The BRICS leaders reaffirmed their “commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes through diplomacy, mediation, inclusive dialogue and consultations in a coordinated and cooperative manner.”

The BRICS countries expressed concern over the escalation of violence in the Middle East, including Israeli attacks, namely the one on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

The terrorist attack on Lebanon involving the use of communications equipment, including pagers, was also condemned.

The leaders supported the establishment of the sovereign State of Palestine within the internationally recognized 1967 borders and its admission to the UN.

The BRICS countries “noted with satisfaction” the proposals to settle the Ukrainian conflict. They also recalled their respective national position on the issue.

Iran nuclear deal

The leaders called for the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear program, which the US has unilaterally rejected.

The economy

The BRICS nations advocated for reforms of the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF-WB, among others) by enhancing the contribution of developing countries to the world economy.

They endorsed an open and fair multilateral trade system with a central role for the World Trade Organization (WTO) providing special regime for developing countries.

The BRICS countries supported the Russian initiative to establish a Grain Exchange to cover other agricultural sectors in the future.

The BRICS countries agreed to discuss and study the possibility of establishing an independent cross-border BRICS Clear settlement and depository system.