BRICS Summit in Kazan: Significance and expectations Expert insights

On October 22, the BRICS summit will kick off in Kazan (Tatarstan, Russia), with analysts predicting a highly eventful and intriguing agenda, potentially leading to significant geopolitical developments. Notably, Azerbaijan and Türkiye have submitted applications to join the organization, positioning this summit as a crucial platform for decisions that could shape not only economic cooperation but also the political landscape.

Caliber.Az spoke with international experts to explore the potential outcomes of the upcoming BRICS summit.

According to Russian political analyst Dmitry Gradov, Azerbaijan's participation in the BRICS summit in Kazan, possibly even as a full member, could play a pivotal role.

"The benefits are mutual—for both Baku and BRICS. Azerbaijan's accession to BRICS would enable member countries to more actively address various economic issues in the South Caucasus region. Given the new geopolitical realities, Azerbaijan's growing importance as a transit hub is of great interest to many nations. BRICS, with its diverse geography, is likely to bring forward a wide range of proposals regarding economic cooperation.

On the other hand, BRICS countries are also drawn to Azerbaijan's significant political influence in the region—Baku's dynamism and proactivity in developing new initiatives and projects are well known. I would highlight that many BRICS nations find the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan highly attractive for establishing economic cooperation. This area presents a completely new field of opportunities. It’s clear that Karabakh is set to become a future hub for economic development in the entire South Caucasus, and those countries that get involved in this process will undoubtedly benefit. As is often the case, those who join large projects at the start stand to gain the most. I would even go as far as to say that there's already a line of interested investors ready to invest in the Karabakh region, and Baku has the advantage of selecting the most promising proposals.

Upon joining BRICS, Baku will undoubtedly broaden its horizons. The potential that Azerbaijan has accumulated in the region can now be offered to a range of global players. This is particularly true in terms of the country's economic capabilities. By joining BRICS, Baku will not only solidify its existing connections but also expand them in some cases. Currently, BRICS countries account for 20% of Azerbaijan’s exports, which means that within the framework of BRICS cooperation, both Azerbaijan’s exports to these countries and its imports from them are expected to increase.

As for the political aspect, it's also highly relevant. It’s no secret that today, economic and political agendas at international summits and forums have become almost inseparable due to the close interconnection of these spheres. Therefore, some political breakthroughs are expected at the BRICS summit in Kazan as well. One potential area of progress could involve advancing dialogue between Baku and Yerevan. Both countries are set to participate in the summit, and it's highly likely that they will arrive with proposals concerning the signing of a peace agreement,” Gradov suggests.

According to Belarusian political scientist and PhD in Political Science Sergey Tomitsa, the BRICS summit in Kazan is a crucial response to the dangerous challenges posed by the West.

"It’s quite clear that we are witnessing the polarization of new centres of power and development. Unlike the old frameworks where the West controlled and managed everything, today many countries in Eurasia and other continents are becoming self-sufficient, gaining the ability to independently moderate economic and political processes in their regions. The West is aware of these shifts and is trying to introduce negative adjustments, which could be highly disruptive. That’s why the existence of an organization like BRICS, and the upcoming summit, are of vital importance in global geopolitics, as they help shape a new international economic roadmap.

We see that the West is interested in creating new centres of chaos and disorder. The war in the Middle East, and the West's blatant attempt to upset the balance of power in the South Caucasus—by provoking new conflicts through the supply of new weapons to Yerevan and offering open military-political support—are also influencing the political decisions of regional countries. The potential accession of nations like Azerbaijan and Türkiye to the BRICS format sends a clear message to the West: not everything in the world is unfolding according to its plans. While the discussions will primarily focus on economics and cooperation in that field, behind it all is the clear political choice made by Baku and Ankara," Tomitsa concluded.