BRICS-GIPFEL IN RIO

Der Globale Süden ringt um Einfluss – und gerät ins Visier von Donald Trump

After several expansions, the BRICS are larger than ever . However , they are not yet a coherent counter - bloc to the West . However, pressure from the United States could scare off moderate members.

The grand appearance of the emerging countries of the global South ended up being somewhat less spectacular than originally planned: Although the members of the BRICS group of states met at the beginning of the month in the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro for the first summit since their recent expansion, which now represents around half the world's population, two of the BRICS' most well-known leaders were absent: Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted on an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, decided not to attend, as did Chinese President Xi Jinping. The latter had previously participated in every summit of the group of states since taking office in 2012.Führungspersönlichkeiten der BRICS fehlten: Der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin, der wegen mutmaßlicher Kriegsverbrechen in der Ukraine per internationalem Haftbefehl gesucht wird, verzichtete ebenso auf eine Anreise wie Chinas Staatschef Xi Jinping. Dieser hatte seit seinem Amtsantritt im Jahr 2012 zuvor an jedem Gipfel der Staatengruppe teilgenommen.

AuchIran, which has been a member of the BRICS since 2024, also sent only its foreign minister to the meeting in Brazil, rather than its president. Israeli and American military strikes had only recently severely shaken the regime in Tehran. The task of positioning the group of states amidst the multitude of geopolitical crises thus fell primarily to the host , Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will assume the group's presidency next year .BRICS seit 2024 angehört, schickte anstelle seines Präsidenten lediglich seinen Außenminister zu dem Treffen nach Brasilien. Israelische und amerikanische Militärschläge hatten nur kurz zuvor das Regime in Teheran hart erschüttert. Die

Their starting position was anything but simple . The BRICS are an extremely heterogeneous group whose members pursue very different interests. On the one hand , authoritarian regimes like China and Russia want to shape the organization into an anti-Western alliance. On the other hand, there are democracies like India, Brazil, and South Africa, which primarily see the group as a platform to demand more international influence for the global South. New members like Indonesia, Egypt, and Ethiopia primarily hope for new market opportunities and easier access to finance.Auf der anderen Seite stehen Demokratien wie Indien, Brasilien und Südafrika, die in der Gruppe primär eine Bühne sehen, um mehr internationalen Einfluss für den globalen Süden einzufordern. Neue Mitglieder wie Indonesien, Ägypten und Äthiopien erhoffen sich vor allem neue Marktchancen und einen leichteren Zugang zu Finanzmitteln.

The meeting was further complicated by statements by US President Donald Trump, who ignored the BRICS' ambivalence and, at the start of the summit, accused the organization of "anti-American policies." He therefore threatened the members and partner countries with punitive tariffs of ten percent.das Treffen zusätzlich durch Äußerungen von US-Präsident Donald Trump, der die Zwiespältigkeit der BRICS ignorierte und der Organisation zum Gipfelauftakt pauschal "antiamerikanische Politik" vorwarf. Er drohte den Mitgliedern und Partnerländern deshalb mit Strafzöllen von zehn Prozent.

The fact that, despite massive external pressure and internal tensions, a detailed final declaration was adopted by consensus at the end of the summit can be viewed by the organizers as a success by no means a given. In the 31-page Rio de Janeiro Declaration, the BRICS cover a wide range of issues : The list of demands includes a reform of the UN Security Council, which is intended to give India and Brazil more influence, as well as greater say for emerging and developing countries in multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In addition, the BRICS are demanding increased climate aid from industrialized countries and are insisting on fair access to artificial intelligence for the global South. Seiten langen Rio-de-Janeiro-Erklärungschlagen die BRICS einen weiten Bogen: Auf der Forderungsliste stehen eine Reform des UN-Sicherheitsrats, die mehr Einfluss für Indien und Brasilien bringen soll, genauso wie mehr Mitspracherechte für Schwellen- und Entwicklungsländer in multilateralen Institutionen wie der Weltbank und dem Internationalen Währungsfonds. Zudem verlangen die BRICS verstärkte Klimahilfen der Industrieländer und pochen auf einen fairen Zugang des globalen Südens zu Künstlicher Intelligenz.

GleichzeitigAt the same time, the states are taking a stand on international disputes and geopolitical crises: Apparently with a view to Trump's trade policy, they criticize the "arbitrary increase in tariffs" and, with a view to the EU, "protectionism under the guise of environmental goals." They condemn the military strikes against Iran as well as the terrorist attack carried out in April in the Indian -controlled part of Kashmir . In the Gaza conflict, they call for a ceasefire and – despite Iran's resistance – advocate for a two-state solution.positionieren sich die Staaten zu internationalen Streitthemen und geopolitischen Krisen: Offensichtlich mit Blick auf Trumps Handelspolitik kritisieren sie die "willkürliche Erhöhung von Zöllen" und mit Blick auf die EU "Protektionismus unter dem Deckmantel von Umweltzielen". Die rufen sie zu einer Waffenruhe auf und sprechen sich – trotz Irans Widerstand – für eine Zwei-Staaten-Lösung aus.

The war between Russia and Ukraine is also addressed. However, the BRICS countries specifically condemn only attacks on Russian infrastructure and civilian casualties in the country. Criticism of Russia, which started the war with its invasion of Ukraine and continues to attack civilian targets in the country, is completely absent from the document. In light of this, the BRICS must rightly accept the accusation that their self - proclaimed commitment to peace and stability is only in line with their own national interests .zwischen Russland und der Ukraine kommt zur Sprache. Konkret verurteilen die BRICS-Länder aber lediglich Angriffe auf russische Infrastruktur und zivile Opfer in dem Land. Kritik an Russland, das den Krieg mit seinem Einmarsch in der Ukraine begonnen hat und fortlaufend zivile Ziele in dem Land attackiert, fehlt in dem Dokument jedoch vollständig. Die

DennochNevertheless, Europe and America probably needn't fear that the BRICS will unite in a united front against the West any time soon. India, in particular, which has significantly expanded its security partnership with the US in recent years, is resisting the formation of a counter-bloc. The government in New Delhi, for example, strictly rejects ambitions for a so-called de-dollarization of its economy and the creation of a new BRICS currency – partly due to concerns that a dollar alternative could be too dominated by China.müssen Europa und Amerika wohl nicht befürchten, dass sich die BRICS auf absehbare Zeit zu einer einheitlichen Front gegen den Westen zusammenschließen. Vor allem Indien, das seine Sicherheitspartnerschaft mit den USA in den vergangenen Jahren deutlich ausgebaut hat, stemmt sich gegen die Bildung eines Gegenblocks. Ambitionen zu einer sogenannten Entdollarisierung ihrer Wirtschaft und der Schaffung einer neuen BRICS-Währung lehnt die Regierung in Neu-Delhi etwa strikt ab – auch wegen der Sorge, dass eine Dollar-Alternative zu sehr von China dominiert werden könnte.

Instead, India is using the BRICS forum to criticise the government in Beijing : In Rio de Janeiro, Modi called for the protection of supply chains for important raw materials and, apparently alluding to China 's restriction on rare earth exports , said : "It must be ensured that no country uses these resources for its own benefit or as a weapon against others ." Modi is thus arguing in line with the West , which has also accused China of using its dominance in critical minerals as a means of exerting pressure .

Trump's blanket threats against the BRICS states could therefore prove to be a mistake for America 's own interests : If he were to significantly increase the cost of membership through punitive tariffs , he could force moderate states like India to withdraw . There is already discussion in Delhi about whether participation in the BRICS still makes sense for the country , given its strategic rivalry with China . But the withdrawal of India and like-minded countries would likely turn the BRICS into the anti-Western alliance that Trump is clearly worried about .

EineA perhaps better strategy for dealing with the group would be to take seriously the understandable demands of emerging and developing countries, for example, for greater participation in international organizations. This could strengthen those forces within the organization that advocate for constructive cooperation and prevent further polarization of the world order .womöglich bessere Strategie im Umgang mit der Gruppe wäre es, die nachvollziehbaren Forderungen der Schwellen- und Entwicklungsländer etwa nach mehr Mitsprache in internationalen Organisationen ernstzunehmen. Dies