The Brics states are rebelling against the Western-dominated world order – but they don’t want to bow to China’s leadership either. The association only knows what it is against – but not what it stands for.
For all those familiar with the geopolitical big stage, the meeting of the Brics countries in South Africa is a bonanza of power games, conflicts of interest, coalition fantasies and a touch of world revolution. Well practiced in the correct global language, the summit palaver revolves around justice, development, opportunities and minorities. In truth, however, it is only about these two: China and the USA. Even if there is a whiff of Bandung, the legendary conference that launched the non-aligned movement, 2023 is not 1955. The Brics countries are following their very national instincts. And that won’t take you far.