Suez Crisis | Jotup

An expanded BRICS could reset world politics but picking new members isn’t straightforward

Retrieved on:

Monday, August 7, 2023

Eager to escape perceived western domination, several countries – mostly in the global south – are looking to join the Brics bloc.

Key Points:

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.

An expanded Brics could reset world politics but picking new members isn’t straightforward

Retrieved on:

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Eager to escape perceived western domination, several countries – mostly in the global south – are looking to join the Brics bloc.

Key Points:

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.

Statement by the Prime Minister on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

Retrieved on:

Monday, May 29, 2023

Government of Canada, State, Foreign policy, International, Democracy, Woman, United Nations peacekeeping, Child, UN, Suez Crisis, Arms industry, Tourism, United Nations

OTTAWA, ON , May 29, 2023 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers:

Key Points:

OTTAWA, ON , May 29, 2023 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers:
"Today, we join the international community to honour the service, dedication, and sacrifice of civilian, military, and police personnel, past and present, in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations around the world.
"Canada has participated in dozens of peacekeeping operations worldwide since the late 1940s.
This impartial and international military presence helped prevent global escalation, preserved peace in the region for 10 years, and earned Pearson a Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.
"Canada will continue to support peacekeeping operations and work with its international partners to make progress on the path toward global peace.