Brazil's Lula:BRICS bloc isn't a counterpoint to the G7، G20 or USA

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated، on the BRICS summit being held in Johannesburg Aug 22-24، that the bloc of nations- Brazil، Russia، India، China and South Africa - does not want to be a counterpoint to the G7، G20 or the United States، but aims to organise the developing Global South and to expand the group members as Brazilian's Lula in favor of Argentina joining the bloc that is not meant to rival the USA، the Group of Seven and G20 wealthy economies.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula confirmed that dozens of countries interested in joining the BRICS Group that seeks to strengthen the bloc but not to be rival to wealthy economies of the G7 and G20 or the United States of America.

Brazil's Lula refuses the BRICS to be rival to the West

Brazil's Lula comments point to، at the BRICS summit، a divergence of vision as leaders of the bloc - Brazil، Russia، India، China and South Africa - arrived in Johannesburg for a meeting that will weigh expanding the group as some members push to forge it into a counterweight to the Western wealthy economies.

Reuters reported that the BRICS summit is holding amidst heightened global tensions provoked by the Ukraine war and Beijing's growing rivalry with the United States have pushed China and Russia to seek to strengthen the BRICS bloc.

President Vladimir Putin will not travel to South Africa

President Vladimir Putin will not travel to South Africa and will attend the BRICS summit virtually as he is wanted under an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Although Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is boosting on the BRICS summit the use of member states' local currencies as an alternative to dollar-dependence، the South African organisers، however، they say there will be no discussions of a bloc currency.

The vision of an expanded BRICS bloc is not capable of rivaling U.S

Their vision of an expanded BRICS bloc capable of rivaling U.S. and European global dominance has، however، been met with skepticism by some members and the outcome of the debate over enlargement could determine the future of a bloc long criticised for a lack of cohesion.

Summit host South Africa welcomed Brazil's Lula and China's Xi Jinping، the leading proponent of enlarging BRICS، who affirmed that he is confident that the upcoming summit will be an important milestone in the development of the BRICS mechanism.

BRICS is a vitally important forum in the reform of global governance

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said during BRICS bloc bilateral meeting with Xi that their two countries had "similar views regarding expansion and President Xi، said that BRICS is a vitally important forum which plays an important role in the reform of global governance and in the promotion of multilateralism as well as cooperation throughout the world.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also attending the Aug. 22 to 24 summit in which Brazil's Lula gestures during a ministerial meeting to celebrate the first 100 days of his government at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia، Brazil، April 10، 2023.
BRICS remains a disparate group، ranging from China، the world's second biggest economy now grappling with a slowdown، to South Africa، an economic minnow facing a power crisis that's led to daily blackouts.

Russia is being hammered by sanctions

Russia is being hammered by sanctions over its war in Ukraine is keen to show the West it still has friends، while India has increasingly reached out to the West، as has Brazil under its new leader.
Two members - India and China - have periodically clashed along their disputed border، adding to the challenge of decision-making in the BRICS group that relies on consensus.

Expansion has long been a goal of China، which hopes that broader membership will lend clout to a grouping already home to some 40% of the world's population and % 25 of global GDP so the leaders of the BRICS group will hold a mini-retreat and dinner where they are likely to discuss a framework and criteria for admitting new countries to the group as Russia is keen to bring in new members in order to strengthen the BRICS bloc

Brazil's Lula to see neighbour Argentina join the bloc

Brazil's Lula reiterated during the BRICS bloc summit meeting his desire to see neighbour Argentina join the bloc but he is concerned that expanding BRICS will dilute its influence while India، which is wary of Chinese dominance and has warned against rushing expansion، has positive intent and an open mind towards joining new members.

While a potential BRICS enlargement remains up in the air، the grouping's pledge to become a champion of the developing world and offer an alternative to a world order dominated by wealthy Western nations is already finding resonance.

Over 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS

Over 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS، say South African officialsand of them، nearly two dozen have formally asked to be admitted، with some expected to send delegations to Johannesburg this week but BRICS has no intention to position itself against G7 or G20، says Brazil's Lula whi indicated that the idea is to establish an effective new bloc where developing nations can cooperate equally، rather than one that rivals developed or Western wealthy economies.

Brazil's Lula explained at the BRICS summit that the bloc simply want to self-organize and to establish an effective new bloc where developing nations can cooperate equally and to establish the Global South، something that has never existed before.

BRICS bloc realized the Global South’s role in the fight against climate change

The BRICS bloc realized that developing economies can be important thanks to the Global South’s role in the fight against climate change and mining for natural resources in demand among modern industries while Brazil's Lula warned that the developed world has always looked down on the developing states as if they were inferior people.

The BRICS group is holding its annual summit in Johannesburg، South Africa، this week and is attended by the heads of state and government of the Global South for the largest gathering in the past few years that as many as 54 African leaders have been invited to participate.
The bloc is seeking to create new mechanisms for the world to become a more equal place by reforming global governance institutions and increasing the rights of the United Nations Security Council permanent members while the BRICS is not about taking anything from anyone.