Some things I find interesting are the exploration of new certification for minerals and metals. Trade barriers make this a necessity, so in conclusion the western certification system will become obsolete for Brics member states and trading partners.
President Sisi who spoke about development bank and meetings that were held in Egypt. Appears to be a very active member already.
I will say the most active, perhaps aggressive member is Iran. Unsurprisingly. President Pezeshkian gave the best speech in my opinion. Palestine was spoken about in detail. Dollar hegemony and the need to terminate it. In fact Iran is the only new member to have already nominated its national bank for currency basket trading.
Also I would make emphasis to Ethiopia. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed correctly spoke about the United Nations Security Council imbalance. Third economy of Africa with many unexploited resources, a young population. Development could be fast there with development bank.
There is so much to say, no time generally, so I will say one more positive I liked before leaving the negative for last.
Brics already was active during Russian chair in many African countries with Ethiopian help in Zambia, Zimbabwe and others as examples. Health, agriculture, transport infrastructure, digital development. So there are many things we do not see or even read about.
Finally, Saudi Arabia and I must criticise Brazil in some part. President Lula use his speech time to promote hosting of G20 summit of nations! In preliminary meetings of ministers for this circus, prosecutorial I think they are called, Saudi delegation cannot guarantee the security of Russian civil aviation from third party confiscation because of sanctions. Flights are and remain suspended to Riyadh.
Only sovereign nations can become members of Brics. So I leave the conclusions for the members on this.
Thanks for your comment, I agree with much of your appraisal. I was impressed with the Women's Business Council's efforts. It's clear that BRICS bureaucracy is rapidly expanding. I'll need to read the very long Declaration as it appears to contain some important issues that weren't discussed. I also await the presser at the Summit's conclusion.
I don't have a ready answer for that and would like some facts upon which to base such an answer. I also noted in my publication notice at MoA that MbZ didn't attend either, although UAE did have a representative. Could it be that Kazan causes some type of psychological discomfort in Gulf Arabs?
thanks karl... an answer might be forthcoming in the next while - weeks/months, or?? it is interesting how KSA and UAE were both antagonists towards yemen.. i wonder if that is playing into this somehow??
That region is full of strange bedfellows. Iran is talking with UAE about a joint naval exercise. Ansarallah pines to hit the Zionist overland supply route that transits Arabia but hasn't because Iran has said no.
Saudi Arabia actively sought to join BRICS in 2023, and its aggressive pursuit of membership came as part of a broader strategy to diversify its international alliances and expand economic cooperation beyond its traditional Western ties. BRICS provides a forum for non-Western economies to collaborate, and Saudi Arabia likely saw value in being part of this growing bloc as a counterbalance to U.S. and European influence, especially given the shift towards a multipolar global order.
However, despite its strong interest, the Kingdom has taken a cautious approach, emphasizing the need to carefully review the membership's implications before ratifying its BRICS status. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan explained in late 2023 that the Kingdom would assess the details before making a formal decision, stating that BRICS membership could be beneficial but needed thorough consideration of the economic and geopolitical ramifications. This indicates that Saudi Arabia wants to ensure it can navigate the differing political and financial interests of BRICS members before fully committing
Al Arabiya English / Voice of East
No specific public statement has been made by Saudi leadership addressing the delay directly, and external voices, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese officials, have yet to openly comment on the reasons behind the delay either. However, Lavrov has previously acknowledged that BRICS allows for flexible cooperation, which might suggest that Saudi Arabia's deliberative approach isn't entirely unexpected in this context
Al Arabiya English / Voice of East
Has Saudi Arabia Said Anything on the Subject?
As of now, there hasn’t been a clear, public statement from the Saudi government explaining the delay in ratifying its BRICS membership. Most commentary has come from analysts and political observers who speculate that Saudi Arabia is playing a careful, pragmatic game by weighing all the potential benefits and risks before fully committing.
It’s important to note that Saudi Arabia has historically been cautious in its foreign policy maneuvers, often avoiding moves that would overly strain its relationships with key Western allies. This could be a case of balancing multiple strategic interests before making a final decision.
In essence, while it aggressively sought BRICS membership for its strategic and economic benefits, the kingdom might now be reassessing how fully aligning with this bloc will impact its global positioning. A point about it being able to leave BRICS later—Saudi Arabia could join and withdraw if it finds the arrangement unworkable. However, it’s also possible that Riyadh wants to avoid making a move it would later regret or that would send a confusing signal to its international partners.
dear doctor karl, thank you for your incredible, indispensable work. blessings.🕊️
I watched it all.
Some things I find interesting are the exploration of new certification for minerals and metals. Trade barriers make this a necessity, so in conclusion the western certification system will become obsolete for Brics member states and trading partners.
President Sisi who spoke about development bank and meetings that were held in Egypt. Appears to be a very active member already.
I will say the most active, perhaps aggressive member is Iran. Unsurprisingly. President Pezeshkian gave the best speech in my opinion. Palestine was spoken about in detail. Dollar hegemony and the need to terminate it. In fact Iran is the only new member to have already nominated its national bank for currency basket trading.
Also I would make emphasis to Ethiopia. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed correctly spoke about the United Nations Security Council imbalance. Third economy of Africa with many unexploited resources, a young population. Development could be fast there with development bank.
There is so much to say, no time generally, so I will say one more positive I liked before leaving the negative for last.
Brics already was active during Russian chair in many African countries with Ethiopian help in Zambia, Zimbabwe and others as examples. Health, agriculture, transport infrastructure, digital development. So there are many things we do not see or even read about.
Finally, Saudi Arabia and I must criticise Brazil in some part. President Lula use his speech time to promote hosting of G20 summit of nations! In preliminary meetings of ministers for this circus, prosecutorial I think they are called, Saudi delegation cannot guarantee the security of Russian civil aviation from third party confiscation because of sanctions. Flights are and remain suspended to Riyadh.
Only sovereign nations can become members of Brics. So I leave the conclusions for the members on this.
Thanks for your comment, I agree with much of your appraisal. I was impressed with the Women's Business Council's efforts. It's clear that BRICS bureaucracy is rapidly expanding. I'll need to read the very long Declaration as it appears to contain some important issues that weren't discussed. I also await the presser at the Summit's conclusion.
thanks karl.. i wonder if you could elaborate on the absence of KSA that you mention?? thanks..
I don't have a ready answer for that and would like some facts upon which to base such an answer. I also noted in my publication notice at MoA that MbZ didn't attend either, although UAE did have a representative. Could it be that Kazan causes some type of psychological discomfort in Gulf Arabs?
thanks karl... an answer might be forthcoming in the next while - weeks/months, or?? it is interesting how KSA and UAE were both antagonists towards yemen.. i wonder if that is playing into this somehow??
That region is full of strange bedfellows. Iran is talking with UAE about a joint naval exercise. Ansarallah pines to hit the Zionist overland supply route that transits Arabia but hasn't because Iran has said no.
Thanks, as always!
To queries about the KSA membership and BRICS+.
Saudi Arabia actively sought to join BRICS in 2023, and its aggressive pursuit of membership came as part of a broader strategy to diversify its international alliances and expand economic cooperation beyond its traditional Western ties. BRICS provides a forum for non-Western economies to collaborate, and Saudi Arabia likely saw value in being part of this growing bloc as a counterbalance to U.S. and European influence, especially given the shift towards a multipolar global order.
However, despite its strong interest, the Kingdom has taken a cautious approach, emphasizing the need to carefully review the membership's implications before ratifying its BRICS status. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan explained in late 2023 that the Kingdom would assess the details before making a formal decision, stating that BRICS membership could be beneficial but needed thorough consideration of the economic and geopolitical ramifications. This indicates that Saudi Arabia wants to ensure it can navigate the differing political and financial interests of BRICS members before fully committing
Al Arabiya English / Voice of East
No specific public statement has been made by Saudi leadership addressing the delay directly, and external voices, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese officials, have yet to openly comment on the reasons behind the delay either. However, Lavrov has previously acknowledged that BRICS allows for flexible cooperation, which might suggest that Saudi Arabia's deliberative approach isn't entirely unexpected in this context
Al Arabiya English / Voice of East
Has Saudi Arabia Said Anything on the Subject?
As of now, there hasn’t been a clear, public statement from the Saudi government explaining the delay in ratifying its BRICS membership. Most commentary has come from analysts and political observers who speculate that Saudi Arabia is playing a careful, pragmatic game by weighing all the potential benefits and risks before fully committing.
It’s important to note that Saudi Arabia has historically been cautious in its foreign policy maneuvers, often avoiding moves that would overly strain its relationships with key Western allies. This could be a case of balancing multiple strategic interests before making a final decision.
In essence, while it aggressively sought BRICS membership for its strategic and economic benefits, the kingdom might now be reassessing how fully aligning with this bloc will impact its global positioning. A point about it being able to leave BRICS later—Saudi Arabia could join and withdraw if it finds the arrangement unworkable. However, it’s also possible that Riyadh wants to avoid making a move it would later regret or that would send a confusing signal to its international partners.