India and Brazil Stand Firm Against China's BRICS Expansion Drive
China's rapid expansion plans for the BRICS bloc to strengthen its political influence are being met with resistance from key member states, India and Brazil. Recent media reports have revealed that both nations are voicing their concerns, signaling a potential slowdown in the bloc's expansion.
India and Brazil Resist the Rapid BRICS Expansion Plan
The future composition of the BRICS bloc has drawn the attention of the media. Sources in the media have disclosed that India and Brazil are resisting the rapid expansion plans of China. Russia and South Africa are the two other nations currently in the group.
As the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg approaches, New Delhi and Brazil have strongly opposed China's repeated lobbying for expansion during the preparatory talks, reports Bloomberg. The BRICS Leaders Summit, scheduled for August 22-24, will discuss the induction of new members.
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have been mentioned as potential candidates, with numerous other nations expressing interest in joining. However, the sheer number of potential members has raised concerns in the West about the bloc transforming into a counterweight against the US and the EU. Brazil, in particular, seeks to avoid expansion due to such worries, while India insists on establishing strict rules for associating with other countries without formal expansion.
South Africa, as the hosting nation, supports exploring different membership options but has not opposed the expansion. China's foreign ministry emphasized that adding more members to the BRICS enjoys political consensus among the existing members, a sentiment echoed by Russia, which broadly favors expansion but supports a collective decision.
“The BRICS leaders meeting last year authorized the expansion of membership; adding more members to BRICS is the political consensus of the five BRICS countries,” China’s foreign ministry pointed out in a statement.
Consensus Among Members Critical in the August Summit
Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, which advises the Kremlin’s administration, clarified that Russia is not keen on expanding BRICS. He explained:
"It’s broadly in favor of BRICS expansion, but without any huge enthusiasm. It’s following the others’ lead. We won’t block any decision."
The August summit in Johannesburg will be a critical moment for BRICS, requiring consensus among current member states amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing, and a geopolitical clash with Russia over Ukraine. However, Vladimir Putin's absence from the meeting due to an indictment and arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has added complexity to the proceedings.
India's resistance has already prompted the drafting of rules for admission, which will be a central topic of discussion at the upcoming leaders' summit. Brazil, while seeking to avoid confrontation within the BRICS, is determined to prevent the body from becoming an antagonistic rival to the G7. Proposals for "observer" and "partner country" categories are on the table, acting as stepping stones for candidates aspiring to achieve full membership.
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