By G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff
G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation
Russian President Vladimir Putin is using the BRICS summit in Kazan as a stage to counter Western pressure, demonstrating that attempts to isolate Russia are not working. With over 20 heads of state, including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi, the event aims to show Russia’s geopolitical alliances are strong despite sanctions and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. BRICS, representing emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, now includes countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, further expanding its influence.
Putin’s focus at the summit will be on promoting an alternative to the US dollar in global trade. Russia is looking to ease the economic strain from Western sanctions, especially as its economy struggles with cross-border trade issues linked to dollar dominance. By encouraging BRICS members to adopt a new trade mechanism, Putin hopes to reduce the influence of the dollar and bypass sanctions.
Despite this display of unity, the BRICS bloc faces internal tensions. Disagreements between major players like China and India, as well as long-standing rivalries between new members like Egypt and Ethiopia, complicate cohesive decision-making. Additionally, while Russia seeks to challenge Western dominance, countries like India are balancing ties with both BRICS and the West.
For Putin, the summit is an opportunity to project strength domestically and internationally, presenting Russia as resilient against Western efforts to marginalize it. However, the effectiveness of BRICS in achieving substantial changes in the global order remains uncertain due to the divergent interests among its members.
