TORONTO – When the Chinese President, Xi Jinping last visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in March 2023, these two authoritarian strongmen reaffirmed their strategic alignment against the United States of America and touted their vision for a new world order no longer dominated by the West. Therefore, obviously the Chinese leader will bolster Beijing’s influence among developing and emerging nations in the ensuing BRICS (an economic alliance, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Johannesburg’s financial district of Sandton, South Africa, since his ties with the United States remain deeply strained and economic troubles bubble up at home. 

Meanwhile, Putin by staying at home would dial in on a video call due to his arrest warrant over the Ukrainian conflict from the International Criminal Court, which already put summit host South Africa in a sticky situation. Then, what would be India and Brazil’s role there?

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be a key part of the summit, which will be joined by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Hence, the core of the discussions is expected to revolve around strengthening cooperation among nations in the Global South. This sentiment resonates with Russia and China’s shared inclination to challenge perceived Western hegemony in global institutions. The meeting is set to draw the attention of numerous developing nations that are considering BRICS membership. Meanwhile, it is anticipated to witness discussions on ways to consolidate political and economic influence in the developing world, marking a pivotal moment in international diplomacy.

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