BRICS is a ray of hope for peace and just international economic order – sans commitment to nuclear weapons abolition

BRICS Kazan

The declaration of the recently ended 16th summit of the BRICS (now extended BRICS) has several points for which the developing and least developed countries have been aspiring for many decades. Even though colonization through direct military control by the erstwhile colonial powers has largely ended, the grievances of these countries continue as the imperial powers have evolved new methods to exert their control. Only a few decades ago the possibilities of non-capitalist path of development appeared real. The situation has however changed. After the collapse of Soviet Union the imperialism has become powerful and dictating the world economically as well as militarily.

The world had become complacent as it was presumed that with the world becoming unipolar the arms race including the nuclear arms race will decrease and a lasting peace will be ensured. There was hope that economic development and prosperity which was the slogan of the new situation under the phrase of globalisation will be a boon for majority of population of the world. However this was not to be. We are watching ever increasing wars in different parts of the world with overt or covert involvement of the economically rich and militarily powerful countries. The new economic treaties, particularly the World Trade Organisation (WTO), even though a multilateral treaty, has led to the disadvantage of the developing world. The clause of the intellectual property rights has deprived the developing countries who could produce the items under the process patent are now in a fix under the product patent in this new regime. Blackmail by the vaccine producing countries of the west has proven this point. Small countries were forced to accept the conditions laid-down by these companies if they desired to purchase the vaccines.  

Military Industrial Complex is making huge profits by supplying arms to the warring factions at the cost of lives of thousands of innocent children and women. War in Ukraine could have been avoided or at least settled through negotiations; but the involvement of the NATO backed by USA is not letting this to happen. Similarly, the disproportionate aggression on the hapless people of Gaza by the Zionist government of Israel, and its refusal to comply with any international opinion including the UNO, International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ) shows that it is behaving like a rogue state. It is not hidden from anyone how the US and other western powers are supporting it. Israel’s decision to ban the UNRWA in Gaza has exposed its strategy to starve thousands and annihilate the Palestinian race. In addition there are internal and external conflicts going on in Africa causing grave threat to the lives of the people. Food insecurity in the world is rising despite increase in the total production of grains. But the issue is not being paid as much attention as required.

The world is looking for some way out. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was a collective voice of the newly liberated countries. It paved way for economic cooperation, respect for the sovereignty of nations and their territorial integrity. It was a movement that opted to be independent of any block. Leadership of the movement was essentially with India and other countries that had been looted by the colonial powers. The NAM vehemently opposed apartheid regime in South Africa. It supported legitimate rights of the Palestinians and other struggling people.  After the fall of Soviet Block, the NAM lost a natural ally for peace and friendship and it became a non-existential force in due course of time (1).

In the present situation several new alliances have come up. The G7, G20, Quad. But the most effective is the BRICS which is a group initiated by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It is an important grouping bringing together the major emerging economies of the world. It represents 41% of the world population, 24% of the world GDP and over 16% share in the world trade. Formed in the year 2011 it deals with the important issues under the three pillars of political security, just economic cooperation and respect to cultural values of the people of the world. The acronym BRICS was initially formulated in 2001 by economist Jim O’Neill, of Goldman Sachs, in a report on growth prospects for the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China which together represented a significant share of the world’s production and population.

With the passing time, several countries of the world have shown interest in the BRICS. The declaration of the summit shows spirit of mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusiveness, collaboration and consensus(2).

It says ‘As we build upon 16 years of BRICS Summits, we further commit ourselves to strengthening cooperation in the expanded BRICS under the three pillars of political and security, economic and financial, cultural and people to-people cooperation and to enhancing our strategic partnership for the benefit of our people through the promotion of peace, a more representative, fairer international order, a reinvigorated and reformed multilateral system, sustainable development and inclusive growth’.

The declaration also emphasizes the urgent need to achieve equitable and inclusive geographical representation in the staff composition of the Secretariat of the United Nations and other international organizations in a timely manner.

It reiterates commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes through diplomacy, mediation, inclusive dialogue and consultations in a coordinated and cooperative manner and support all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises. The declaration expressed deep concern over unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and in West Bank as a result of the Israeli military offensive causing which has led to mass killing and injury of civilians, forced displacement and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure. It has stressed the urgent need for an immediate, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees from both sides who are being illegally held captive and the unhindered sustainable and at scale supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and cessation of all aggressive actions and reaffirmed support for the State of Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations in the context of the unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution.


The declaration also calls for prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS) and of its weaponization. Ironically the declaration did not mention about the abolition of nuclear weapons.

It has to be understood that on many scores it is a positive step forward but the BRICS is less homogenous compared to the NAM. Whereas the leadership of the NAM was with the newly liberated developing countries themselves, in the BRICS it is dominated by the more powerful Russia and China.  

The general consensus of trade among nations’ own currency instead of the US Dollars is a relief to the developing world. The US would do its best to sabotage the movement; there is need to tread with caution.

Dr Arun Mitra is a Practicing ENT Surgeon in Ludhiana, Punjab. He is also the President of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) www.idpd.org 

References:

  1. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/bandung-conf
  2. https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/10/26/brics-13-partner-countries-summit-kazan-russia/#:~:text=At%20the%202023%20BRICS%20summit,Brazil

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