BRICS held at ransom by India in South Africa

 Brazil’s Lula, considered a democratic partner of the West sometimes and voice for an independent Global South other times, has to balance these conflicting identities. He does not want to totally overthrow the existing order of international relations – but he also wants to see some changes, which is understandable. India has also positioned itself against BRICS expansion, hoping to dampen the organization’s push for an independent financial system because it has a strong strategic relationship with the US, while also still being a key member of the Global South. Accepting six new members was essentially a compromise for these two countries.  Bradley Blankenship is an American journalist, RT,

 

The above quote from an article in RT said it all about the going ons in the Summit in South Africa. Only 6 new members were admitted to BRICS in spite of a long list of application, and in spite of Xi Jinping's opening statement about BRICS being an inclusive organisation for the Global South. Apparently, some founding member, the elephant in the room, wanted to make BRICS as an exclusive club for the noveau riche, like the G7, and also to protect their influence in the bloc. This narrow and myopic interest of the members has undermined the major objectives and missions of BRICS. 

BRICS' relevance as an international organisation and their interest in joining BRICS is all about a new platform to represent and protect the interest of the Global South, not the interest of one or two founding members, or a private club. An alternative financial and banking system, dedollarisation to protect from being threatened and sanctioned by the Americans, an alternative currency or trading in respective currencies other than the dollar, can only be successful in an expanded BRICS membership.

Countries of the Global South need BRICS and BRICS is only relevant and meaningful with the full support of the Global South, ie membership. Turning BRICS into the private club of a new rich group of countries relative to the Global South is a recipe for disaster. BRICS would become just a flower vase if the Global South abandons BRICS when they feel that BRICS is closing its door against them and not being one of them.

How did BRICS go about admitting only 6 members? What were the criteria to shut the door to the rest of the applicants? Who is the opposing member acting against the interest of BRICS and the Global South? Publicly announcing support for expansion but setting conditions is as good as saying no to expansion. The founding members of BRICS must not be misled by a prima donna acting on behalf of the Americans to prevent BRICS from moving forward to defend the interest of the Global South.

From the small number of new members admitted, apparently the criteria is to admit only 6. One can also speculate that each founding member can only support one new member with the host South Africa allowed to support two new members. Such criteria are detrimental to the growth of BRICS and must be abolished before they cause more harm to the nascent organisation. Other conditions like limitingn to only 3 new members of those sanctioned by the US not allowed to join were pushed, but rejected. The Americans and the West are laughing themselves silly at the way BRICS is being stopped in its path by a rogue member.

BRICS cannot wait for the next Summit to admit new members. And why must the new members be admitted only in 2024? Don't the founding members smell a rat, a conspiracy to stunt the growth of BRICS? BRICS must not be hijacked by a rogue member and crippled from what it sets out to do. The Global South needs BRICS. It is ridiculous for BRICS to tolerate a traitor in the bloc and appeased its behaviour to undermine its existence, to stop from moving forward. Either BRICS get rid of the traitor in the bloc or the Global South would turn against BRICS. BRICS cannot be polite to traitors with malicious intent and must act firmly to rid the bloc of them immediately... or become a laughing stock. And BRICS must act fast and act now. The cancer in the bloc must be cut out for the good of BRICS.

PS. BRICS needs a strong leader to lead. Putin or Xi must step up and stop being soft to India, the American Trojan Horse. India has its own agenda that is different from BRICS. India is not in the same page as BRICS. Get India out of BRICS for the good of the Global South. BRICS would lose its crediblity if it allows India to remain and mess around with BRICS. A trouble maker is a trouble maker. Period. 

BRICS is headless at the moment, and the one that shouted the loudest would get its way. This is bad for BRICS.