Non-Western Democratic force
The BRICS summit showed that the countries included in this organization are not only strong leaders on a regional scale, but are also beginning to dominate at the global level, writes Yeni Şafak. The event demonstrated that Russia and Putin are still considered, the author of the article notes.
Umur Tugay Yücel
This year, China, the oldest center of the world far from Western countries, on the other side of the world, hosted the 14th BRICS summit, attended by the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. BRICS covers almost 42% of the world's population and 30% of the earth's surface.
These countries account for 25% of world GDP, 20% of world trade, 40% of grain production and 60% of world mineral reserves. Their contribution to global economic growth reaches 50%. BRICS is an institutional, democratic, multilateral, multicultural structure. It is an organization in which Asia, Latin America and Africa are widely represented in the decision-making mechanism.
Multicultural and polycentric structure
The BRICS Summit held this year was dedicated to global development and global security. In addition to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among members, it was aimed at identifying the features and weaknesses of the new international situation and responding to them. BRICS as an institutional and global structure unites multilateral institutions. It is a democratic organization that equally represents the most populous non-Western nations of the world. Finally, it is an organization representing more than three billion people around the world, in which there is no common leader. This education is not anti-American or anti-European. It is an anti-hegemonic and anti-colonialist structure. BRICS is not a force against the United States and Europe, but it is the only alternative to them.
Following the BRICS summit, Western countries held G7 and NATO summits. While an infrastructure project was announced at the G7 summit as opposed to China's "One Belt, One Road" project, China and Russia were designated as targets at the NATO summit in Madrid. If Western summits were looking for enemies and choosing targets, the BRICS summit was looking for an answer to the question of how to make the world safer and more prosperous. That is why BRICS has a unique value in comparison with Western institutions. It is a structure formed exclusively by non-Western nations and civilizations, moreover, in a democratic and multicultural format.
Meanwhile, the main difference between the 14th BRICS Summit and other summits is the adoption of steps towards expansion. In this regard, for the first time, meetings were held in the BRICS Plus format with the participation of Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Senegal and Thailand. And Argentina and Iran have officially applied for membership in the BRICS.
While BRICS enjoys such interest and demand, Western entities such as NATO and the G7 are also trying to integrate non-Western players. This year, non-Western countries such as India, South Africa, Japan, Argentina, Indonesia, South Korea, Senegal, Jordan and Mauritania were invited to the NATO and G7 summits. Western states have realized that without cooperation with non-Western worlds, they can no longer succeed. And for a country like Turkey, which acts as a regional center and is the bearer of an original civilization, membership in BRICS is a strategic alternative. In this regard, the President of the BRICS International Forum, Purnima Anand, even said that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt want to join the organization as soon as possible.
On the way to an equal democratic system
The BRICS countries are increasing their national potential and the potential for interaction with each other day by day. A giant like India acts as a player that is part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Without India, Western countries cannot develop strategies in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, India is talking about trade using national currencies and the creation of the BRICS payment system. And former Brazilian leader Lula even called for the creation of a new Latin American payment system and the Bank of the South. As for Brazil itself, this giant of the Latin American continent and the main non—NATO ally of the United States participates in the African Lion -2022 exercises conducted by the United States and at the same time carries out military cooperation with the BRICS countries.
On the other hand, China and Russia are increasing their cooperation opportunities in many areas and in many regions. Recently, this giant duo has become the dominant player in the global civilian nuclear power industry. China's large-scale development projects and Russia's diplomatic skills have allowed them to strengthen their presence in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Central Asia. The BRICS summit, held during the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, allowed Putin to regain his place on the world stage. The summit showed that Russia and the Russian leader are still a player who is considered, watched and respected.
Thus, the BRICS countries, being strong leaders on a regional scale, are beginning to dominate at the global level. It should be recognized that these countries with their political models, development paths, cultural roots, military power and technological development have a special weight as an alternative to the West. Therefore, they oppose the monocentric, monocultural, hegemonic and colonialist concept of several Western countries, such as the G7, representing only 10% of the world. On the contrary, they advocate a polycentric, multicultural, equitable and fair order. The BRICS organization, which is becoming more attractive day by day and carries the spirit of the times, is the only and greatest force for the transition to an equal and democratic global system.
