BRICS Make History in Kazan: Can They Maintain The Momentum?
Certain cities have a knack for etching their names in the annals of history due to unforeseen circumstances. Yalta, Bretton Woods, and Bandung are a few examples. The latest addition to this list is Kazan.
The BRICS summit in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, under Russian presidency, was historic in more ways than one. It attracted the attention of the global majority and left the declining Western order perplexed.
Although the world did not change overnight, Kazan marked the beginning of a high-speed journey towards a new multi-nodal order. The Kazan Expo center, which hosted the summit, was connected to the airport and the aero-express train to the city, symbolizing the interconnectedness of the new order.
The impact of BRICS 2024 in Kazan will be felt for weeks, months, and years to come. Let's delve into the breakthroughs.
The Kazan Manifesto
The Kazan Declaration, a detailed diplomatic manifesto, was one of the major outcomes of the summit. Despite the lack of a shared ideology among BRICS members, the declaration proposed substantial reforms, ranging from the UN Agenda 2030 to the IMF, the World Bank, the WTO, the WHO, and the G20.
The essence of the Kazan Declaration is the move towards in-depth institutional changes and the rejection of hegemony. The Declaration will be presented to the UN Security Council, but it is expected that the hegemonic powers will reject it.
The BRICS Outreach Session
The BRICS Outreach session was a microcosm of the new, truly decolonized, non-unilateral world. President Putin opened the floor to the leaders and heads of delegations of 35 other nations, including Palestine, and the UN Secretary General. The session was a testament to the growing influence of the Global South.
The session also saw the announcement of 13 new BRICS partners, including Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. This strategic move included powerhouses from Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as NATO member Turkey.
The Russian BRICS Presidency
The Russian BRICS presidency was instrumental in organizing the complex summit, which was preceded by over 200 BRICS-related meetings across Russia. Security was a top priority, given the risk of a false flag or terrorist attack.
Connectivity Corridors
Connectivity corridors are the main theme of Eurasia and Afro-Eurasia integration. Putin identified Southeast Asia and Africa as the new growth drivers of the near future. Both regions are key partners of several high-profile Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. Putin also highlighted the Northern Sea Route and the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) as the top two connectivity corridors of the future.
Return of the Primakov Triangle
The Global Majority had high expectations for a breakthrough in alternative payment systems at the Kazan summit. However, the UNIT project, a form of "apolitical money" anchored in gold and BRICS+ currencies, is still in its early stages. The BRICS digital investment platform is already operational, facilitating Global South access to financing without the dreaded IMF/World Bank "structural adjustment" conditionalities.
Despite these advances, achieving consensus on difficult issues remains a challenge for BRICS. The Brazilian government's veto of Venezuela as a BRICS partner was not well received, signaling potential problems for next year when Brazil assumes the BRICS presidency.
Bottom Line
Kazan demonstrated that the driving force of BRICS is the Primakov triangle, or RIC (Russia, India, China). The addition of Iran to this group could further strengthen it. The future of BRICS integration and Afro-Eurasia integration largely depends on RIC.
The BRICS summit in Kazan marked a significant step towards a new multi-nodal world order. However, the path ahead is fraught with challenges. Can BRICS maintain the momentum and overcome these obstacles? Share your thoughts and discuss this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
