The BRICS+ Summit in Kazan is a testament to an emerging multipolar order and is symptomatic of growing discontent among some emerging powers with the global financial order.
This year's summit, however, also revealed a lack of consensus on key issues and little or no cohesive political vision. The BRICS group already struggled with a common vision and identity even before the four new members—Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—joined. The addition of these four—and possibly Saudi Arabia later—will ensure that the multilateral group will continue to struggle for an identity.
On broad issues like trade facilitation and foreign investment, agreements will be easier to achieve than on geopolitical stances or reactions to the dollar. Trying to create a "Global South view" of the world will likely fail, but as a convening forum, it will be a useful gathering point and may even score some diplomatic breakthroughs.
Russia hosted the BRICS+ Summit in Kazan from 22 to 24 October, welcoming leaders from 36 countries. The gathering marked the largest foreign policy event Russia has ever hosted. It was also the first summit since the group's expansion, bringing the total membership to nine.
Putin’s plans
For Russian President Vladamir Putin, the summit was an opportunity to demonstrate that Russia is not isolated in the wake of the war in Ukraine. In that respect, the summit achieved some gains.
Read more: BRICS Summit: A diplomatic coup for Putin but light on detail
Reeling under sanctions, Putin also sought to tap into discontent among rising middle powers with the exercise of the US’s financial power and the dominance of the dollar in world trade—in particular, the imposition of unilateral measures against countries it deems “non-compliant” or a threat to its interests. This is also a theme raised often by fellow BRICS member Brazil. It is also an issue of interest to heavily-sanctioned Iran. But Putin did not gain much traction on this issue, as it is not one that resonates with India, or newer members like the UAE and Egypt. Still, it should be expected that the dollar will be a frequent topic of future BRICS+ events.
Many middle powers, however, have gravitated towards the bloc in the wake of Western policy responses to the war in Gaza, which some view as a betrayal of the international rules-based order. There is deep disappointment in Washington’s refusal to pressure Israel for a ceasefire with Hamas, despite the Israeli army killing of over 43,000 Palestinians and its decimation of Gaza. On this issue, there was broader agreement.
Diverging agendas
The Kazan summit was certainly notable for bringing together leaders of middle powers. Presidents Xi Jinping, Cyril Ramaphosa, Abdel Fatah el-Sisi, Masoud Pezeshkian, and Mohammed bin Zayed—from China, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, and UAE, respectively—were in attendance; prime ministers Narendra Modi of India and Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia also participated, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan represented Saudi Arabia, though the Kingdom has yet to formally become a member. This is a notable achievement for a country heavily sanctioned by Western powers.
Increasingly, the world is paying attention to so-called middle powers and exploring the rise of the Global South. These are useful trends to follow, but given the broad socio-economic, geopolitical, and historical differences among countries of the BRICS+ and the Global South more broadly, it will be difficult to achieve common political agendas. Reaching common economic agendas around trade and foreign investment will be easier.
