BRICS: A China-Led Group Looking for Relevance
The DiplomatAug 29, 2023
BRICS: PRC Supports Expansion; Argentina Likely to Withdraw Application
The Facts
A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry reiterated Beijing's support for the expansion of the BRICS ("Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa") grouping of developing nations on Monday, stating a news briefing that any country interested in becoming a member will be welcomed.
This comes as Argentina's proposed foreign minister under President-elect Javier Milei, Diana Mondino, told at the victory rally on Sunday that the country would likely decline membership on claims that there is no clear benefit for Argentina to enter the BRICS.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
BRICS is merely a notoriety-seeking PRC-dominated group that comprises countries that have nothing in common, except the ambition to attain relevance in geopolitical affairs. Each nation certainly has its own reasons for applying to join the group, but, ultimately, doing so can only deepen its dependence on China.
Pro-China narrative
The more that BRICS expands, the closer the world will be to a new, multipolar international order — with a robust, peacebuilding China —based on win-win cooperation and mutual respect that will replace the centuries-old exploitive Western dominance system. It's outrageous that the US and its allies keep judging the bloc and its members by their own standards.
Nerd narrative
There's a 70% chance that China will operate at least one military base in a BRICS country before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.