Suez

• Eager to escape perceived western domination, several countries – mostly in the global south – are looking to join the Brics bloc.
• The five-country bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is also looking to grow its global partnerships.
• That’s because the group is still focused on harmonising its vision, and the potential new members do not readily make the cut.
• Simply put, while some states are opposed to western hegemony, they do not yet agree among themselves on what the new alternative should be.

Evolution of BRICS

• It was attended mostly by recently decolonised states and independence movements intent on asserting themselves against Cold War superpowers – the Soviet Union and the United States.
• BRICS has come to be viewed as challenging the counter hegemony of the US and its allies, seen as meddling in the internal affairs of other states.
• Reuters estimates that more than 40 states are aspiring to join BRICS.

Expanded BRICS

• A strategically expanded BRICS would be seismic for the world order, principally in economic terms.
• Instead, the new joiners would likely use their new BRICS membership to better bargain with their western partners, having more options on hand.
• Read more:
  Ethiopia wants to join the BRICS group of nations: an expert unpacks the pros and cons

  Herein lies the challenge (and the paradox) with BRICS expansion.

Weighing the likely contenders

• In this regard, aspirants such as Saudi Arabia and Mexico seem the least likely to make the cut in the short term.
• That’s despite the Saudis’ oil wealth and Mexico’s leftist-progressive leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
• Saudi Arabia has a long-term military relationship with the US, while Mexico is the US’s number-one trading partner.
• Of equal importance in the evaluation of potential new members is the relationship the aspirants have with the existing BRICS members.

Character matters

• Having rivals, or states that are at least ambivalent towards each other, seems anathema to that.
• It is thus not mere expansion, but the character of the expansion which will guide the five principals on whether they grow from that number.

• With the Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole and Grand World Voyage both departing in January 2025, this will be the first time that Holland America Line is offering two Grand Voyages of more than 120 days simultaneously.
• Holland America Line has officially opened bookings to the public for its two newest Grand Voyages.
• "We craft one-of-a-kind itineraries that resonate with our world voyage guests, as indicated by pre-bookings on these cruises," said Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America Line's chief commercial officer.
• Cruise fares for the 2025 Grand World Voyage begin at $24,999, while cruise fares for the 2025 Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole begin at $26,399, both per person, double occupancy.

• Luxembourg, Belgium, and Paris, France – 8 February 2023: eureKARE, an innovative investment company for disruptive synthetic biology applications, announces the appointment of Anne Lauvergeon to its Board of Directors.
• Ms. Lauvergeon brings an extensive background in the management of large energy corporations (most notably as CEO of Areva), finance, and government.
• Starting her career working in the French Government, Ms. Lauvergeon held several important positions during the leadership of François Mitterrand.
• Alexandre Mouradian, Chairman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of eureKARE, commented: “Anne is one of France’s most influential business women.

• Specifically, Veolia is improving clients' energy efficiency, better managing their water and wastewater and recovering resources from their wastes.
• This recognition follows the completed merger of Veolia with Suez earlier this year, with the combined assets, largely concentrated on water services, now part of Veolia.
• Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 28,508 billion euros in 2021. www.veolia.com
  About Veolia North America: A subsidiary of Veolia group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery.
• Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent.