Amidst ever-changing international dynamics, cooperation within the BRICS alliance is becoming increasingly crucial. At the 14th BRICS Senior Security Officials Meeting in St. Petersburg, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged strengthening unity and cooperation within the alliance in the face of “political forces with Cold War mentalities.”
Amidst criticism of the organization by some countries, Wang Yi stressed the need to consider each other’s core interests and protect each other’s sovereignty, security and development interests. This vision of mutually beneficial cooperation aims to strengthen the ties between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the founding members of BRICS.
Since its establishment in 2006, the BRICS alliance has attracted increasing interest and expanded its scope to include countries such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of new members, such as the proposed Saudi Arabia, or the applications for membership by Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Malaysia, are evidence of the coalition’s appeal and reach.
However, these advances are not without their challenges. At the BRICS representatives’ meeting, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian sharply criticized the United States for expanding terrorism and violating the sovereignty and independence of other nations. He denounced its misuse of technology and science, which threatens international peace and security.
These tensions are also reflected in the recent US accusations against Iran, accusing it of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine. The sanctions announced against Moscow and Tehran are evidence of the complexity of international relations and the geopolitical issues that currently prevail.
In the face of these challenges, the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, which is expected to be attended by the Russian and Chinese presidents, is of crucial importance for the future of this strategic alliance. Strengthening cooperation within BRICS and consolidating relations between its members remain major challenges for addressing current global challenges and promoting harmonious and balanced cooperation on the international stage.