Media: Russia advocates for "new world order" at expanded BRICS summit

American television channel CNBC has said that Russia is rolling out the red carpet to its geopolitical allies as it hosts the latest BRICS summit on October 22, pushing its agenda to create a “new world order” that challenges the West.

Russia, holder of the BRICS presidency, economically isolated and heavily sanctioned by the West, can also turn to this year’s summit to demonstrate that it still commands respect on the global stage and has powerful allies willing to turn a blind eye to its ongoing war in Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports per CNBC.

Russia has been trying to woo what’s collectively known as the “Global South” — or economically developing countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America — and contrast to the “Global North” of industrialized nations, traditionally led by the US.

Putin has described the beefed-up BRICS group as a “strong indication of the growing authority of the association and its role in international affairs” and signalled on October 18 that he intends for the so-called “BRICS +” format to challenge the West on both a geopolitical and economic front.

“The countries in our association are essentially the drivers of global economic growth. In the foreseeable future, BRICS will generate the main increase in global GDP,” Putin told officials and businessmen on October 18. 

“The economic growth of BRICS members will increasingly depend less on external influence or interference. This is essentially economic sovereignty,” Putin added.

Notably, originally established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, BRICS welcomed South Africa as a member in 2011. From January 1, 2024, the group has further expanded to include Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, thereby increasing its influence.

This year, Russia is serving as the chair of BRICS, with a busy agenda featuring over 200 planned events. A significant highlight is the ongoing summit in Kazan, which celebrates the inclusion of the new member states and reinforces BRICS's role in promoting stability and collaboration in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

This summit is anticipated to be the flagship event of Russia's presidency within BRICS.

By Aghakazim Guliyev