Australian international relations expert Gregory Clark has emphasized Russia's pivotal role as a unifying force within BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). Speaking with a TASS correspondent, Clark expressed his belief that Russia, one of the founding members of BRICS, acts as a binding factor for the community's member countries, a role that will strengthen over time.
Clark noted that although differences exist among BRICS nations, their strong ties with Russia serve to unite them.
"The states of the community focus on what unites them rather than what divides them, and in the case of China and India, it is their relationship with Russia. This is how the organization is getting stronger," he explained, adding that "Moscow's central role within BRICS will continue to grow."
The expert proposed that BRICS could potentially evolve into "a new United Nations if more countries, both formally and informally, express interest in joining."
"A robust secretariat of such an organization could effectively supplant both the G7 and G20. The G7's overt pro-American political stance tarnishes its credibility, while the G20 struggles with disorganization and ineffectiveness," emphasized Clark. He highlighted that "the adept diplomatic abilities of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov provide a promising trajectory for the development of BRICS along these lines."
Clark also urged BRICS countries "to adopt a larger perspective", emphasizing that the aspirations of 23 nations to join the organization should be taken seriously. He highlighted the importance of enhancing the New Development Bank's role to counteract the impact of US sanctions and potentially accelerate the transition to a single currency backed by gold or resources.
The ongoing BRICS summit, presided over by South Africa, is being held in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24. Among the summit's discussions is the topic of expanding the organization, as mentioned by Republic of South Africa Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor.
Gregory Clark, an expert in international politics, previously served as an Australian diplomat, notably in Moscow and Hong Kong. He is currently based in Tokyo and holds influential positions at Tama University and Akita International University.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: brics-russia2020.ru/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS